in_person_event_featured

2023 Farm Bill Fly-In

The American Sustainable Business Network and Regenerate America are teaming up to advocate for a more regenerative and just Farm Bill. The farm bill is one of the biggest legislative opportunities in 2023 to make a positive impact on the climate crisis, biodiversity, clean water, and social justice. Business members from both organizations will meet with members of Congress to make the case that a robust and resilient future of American agriculture will require investments in programs and policies that support regenerative producers and rebuild the missing middle of our domestic agriculture supply chains.

Questions? Reach out to Colton Fagundes, [] cfagundes@asbnetwork.org or Liza LaManna [] Lamanna@asbnetwork.org

Register for the Fly-In here

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in_person_event_featured

The Round Table Dialogue Series: Leading a Regenerative Business and Life

What is the difference between ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance), Sustainability, and Regeneration? How do we build a regenerative business? How do we shift away from power-over leadership paradigms and intentionally create systemic change

Carol Sanford is the founder and designer of The Regenerative Business Development Community and The Regenerative Change Agent Development Community and the author of many books. Please join Carol and our Founder, Lori Hanau, as they discuss what it means to move from ESG to Regeneration. Carol will share about her next book, No More Gold Stars, coming out in the Fall, and Indirect Work, Carol’s latest book. Carol and Lori will also discuss Carol’s recent ALS diagnosis and her approach to conscious dying.

Register

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Virtual Event

Shifting the Mindset from Despair to Determination on Climate Change

The American Sustainable Business Network’s Livable Planet Working Group presents, “Shifting the Mindset from Despair to Determination on Climate Change.” Anthropocentric climate change is an ecological and social punch to the gut, and no longer a thing of the future. Catastrophic events unfolding around feel overwhelming and too big to act on, but it is imperative that we face them head on, and not get distracted by multiplying stimuli. This panel will shake you out of the spiral of doom and gloom and present the seemingly impossible problems as a series of opportunities for collective progress in this decisive decade. Join international experts working on the frontlines of the sustainability challenge to delve fearlessly into the science, and in doing so reframe the problems as a catalyst for courageous action and leadership on every level. This session is designed to level-set with the science and bring forth meaningful solutions that you, your family, businesses, networks, and the whole of humanity can put into action now.

[] Register for this ASBN Live event here

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Virtual Event

Fighting Climate Change and Building Regenerative Agriculture Supply Chains in the 2023 Farm Bill

In an increasingly uncertain economy, disrupted by severe and erratic climate conditions and global supply chain instability, regenerative agriculture represents a clear path forward for American businesses. Yet, these businesses have experienced barriers to fully bringing regenerative agriculture into their U.S. supply chains. In addition to the low number of agricultural producers trained in soil health practices, there are national supply chain gaps in the form of missing aggregators; limited processing and manufacturing capacity; and the associated shortages of skilled labor. Investments of resources in this “missing middle” is essential for both farmers to access existing markets and for brands and businesses striving to build new ones, but require the federal government’s partnership.

The American Sustainable Business Network and the [] Regenerate America coalition are partnering on a webinar to explore this issue of the “missing middle” and how USDA and Farm Bill policy address it. This webinar is presented by the ASBN Regenerative Agriculture and Justice Working Group [RELINK LOCAL].

Panelists will include:
Senator Peter Welch (D-VT)
Calla Rose Ostrander – Managing Partner, Terra Regenerative Capital
Suzanne McDowell– Vice President of Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability, King Arthur

[] REGISTER TODAY!

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in_person_event_featured

GREENWASHING: A Conversation Between ASBN and ALLBIRDS

Join us for a discussion on GREENWASHING between the American Sustainable Business Network and Allbirds.

“Greenwashing” is the act or practice of making a product, service, organization, or policy appear more environmentally-friendly or less environmentally harmful than it actually is.

When companies greenwash their products and reputations, they’re creating the false or misleading impression that the use of such products and/or support of those businesses makes a meaningful contribution to environmental progress and ecological sustainability. Sometimes this perception is inadvertently created. More often, it’s a deliberate attempt to exploit public concerns for the purpose of enhancing profits and/or deliberately direct attention away from ongoing crimes against the planet.

In this discussion, you’ll learn where greenwashing comes from, what it looks like, and how to avoid it.

SPEAKERS

Jeffrey Hollender (CEO & Co-Founder, American Sustainable Business Network; former CEO & Co-Founder, Seventh Generation)

Jeffrey Hollender is CEO and co-founder of the American Sustainable Business Network, which through its national member network represents more than 250,000 businesses in a wide range of industries. He was co-founder and CEO of Seventh Generation, which he built into a leading natural product brand known for its authenticity, transparency, and progressive business practices.

Hollender was also the founder of Sustain Natural, that develops and markets sustainable feminine care products for women; and a strategic advisor and former Board Chair of Greenpeace US. He is currently an Adjunct Professor of sustainability and social entrepreneurship at the Stern Business School, New York University. He is also the author of his seven books, including most recently, “The Responsibility Revolution: How the Next Generation of Businesses Will Win and Planet Home.”

Hana Kajimura (Head of Sustainability, Allbirds)

Hana Kajimura leads sustainability at Allbirds, pushing the brand to integrate environmental and social sustainability into all aspects of the business including product, supply chain, and operations. She also shapes Allbirds’s innovation narrative and storytelling, translating sustainability initiatives into engaging consumer-facing stories. Prior to joining Allbirds, Hana worked in management consulting at Bain & Company, advising Fortune 500 clients across industries including technology, healthcare, private equity, and energy. Hana has also worked with Google X and Environmental Defense Fund on clean energy projects.

Stephanie Erwin (VP of Impact, Strategy & People, American Sustainable Business Network)

Stephanie Erwin (she/they) oversees ASBN’s strategy across its core functions and multi-issue portfolio, matching resources and capacity to long-term impact. She also leads the working group and strategy for the Circular Economy at ASBN. Over the course of her career, Stephanie has worn many hats as an entrepreneur, a strategist, and an analyst, focused on designing and scaling sustainable systems after years of working in the fintech, consumer, and nonprofit sectors. Stephanie holds an MBA in Sustainability specializing in Circular Value Chain and Impact Finance as well as an MS certificate in Environmental Policy from Bard College. She is also a co-instructor in Entrepreneurship at the Bard MBA in Sustainability Program.

* This event is exclusive to ASBN Members and Hanson Bridgett staff and clients only*

Hosted by Hanson Bridgett

[] Contact ASBN to Register

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in_person_event_featured

ASBN Member Forum: FTC Green Guides

ASBN is hosting a member-wide forum to discuss the FTC Request for Information as they update the definitions for environmental marketing claims through theGreen Guides. On this call we will give an overview of the Guides and explain the context for the comment we are submitting, as well as request member feedback and involvement in this comment process.

Agenda
Introduction: What are the Green Guides?
General Claims and Proposed Modifications
Specific Claims: Current and Additional Terms
Action Items: How can your business participate in the ASBN Comment?

Contact[] amaxwell@asbnetwork.orgto participate

This meeting is open to ASBN Members only.Sign up to be a member [RELINK LOCAL]to participate.

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Virtual Event

How to Align Ownership Interests with your Business’s Mission

American Sustainable Business Network invites you to join us on Wednesday, March 15th at 1pm ET for [] ASBN Live: How to Align Ownership Interests with Your Business’s Mission, an interactive webinar with RSF Social Finance CEO Jasper van Brakel and Natalie Reitman-White, ownership & governance design advisor at Alternative Ownership Advisors.

Many business leaders have asked themselves: If I take on equity investors, will I have to fight to preserve my company’s mission? If I have to sell my company to a larger enterprise to provide an exit for investors, will I be selling out that mission? Do I have to stay small to stay loyal to my founding purpose? How do I exit or retire from the business while making sure the employees and other stakeholders are taken care of, and the mission and culture is preserved? What alternative strategies exist?

For many growing, purpose-driven ventures, the choice between liquidity for the business or for owners on the one hand, and loyalty to a social or environmental mission on the other, is as real as it is problematic. And the stakes in addressing this conundrum go much deeper than the concerns of individual companies.

During this webinar, van Brakel and Reitman-White will talk about the advantages of transitioning to a mission-protective ownership structure, introduce several different models for alternative ownership and show how they play out in real life by offering examples of businesses that have employed each with success.

[] REGISTER TODAY!

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in_person_event_featured

National + NY Chapter Meeting

Investors Circlehas catalyzed the deployment over $275M into impactful early stage businesses since its inception in 1987. Each year IC members invest in dozens of innovative entrepreneurs who are working to solve major social and environmental problems.

Join the Investors Circle monthly National Meetingas we review two presentations from innovative and impactful entrepreneurs.We will announce the companies to pitch a week prior to the meeting, with GUST links to review. If you have an investment opportunity that you would like considered for the meeting, please have the entrepreneur submit an application. We encourage you to bring potential members as our guests. Please let us know in advance so that we can welcome your guest at the meeting.

Meets the 3rd Thursday of every month at 12:00-2:00PM ET. Does not meet during Summer Break for July an August.

This is a virtual meeting. Contact [] jillian[] @asbnetwork.orgto join and receive the invitation, names of the companies pitching, agenda, and zoom link.

Investors Circle is open to ASBN Core-level and higher Members only.You must be an SEC-Accredited investor to participate in IC.​Sign up to be a member [RELINK LOCAL] to participate.

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Virtual Event

Clean Energy & Infrastructure: Impact & Opportunities

Join the American Sustainable Business Network and experts to learn about how funding opportunities in theBipartisan Infrastructure Billand theInflation Reduction Actwill dramatically change the energy landscape. The nearly $369 billion in climate and clean energy provisions in the new law include grants and tax credits that will bring down emissions and provide businesses with the certainty they need to make long-term investments in clean energy.

Speakers:
– Joshua Peck, Senior Policy Advisor, White House Office of Clean Energy Innovation & Implementation
– Mayda Sanchez Shingler, Executive Director, Ohio Sustainable Business Council
– David Levine, President, the American Sustainable Business Network
– Michael Green, Director of Climate & Energy, the American Sustainable Business Network
– Stephanie Howe, Director, Energy Programs and Director of Human Capital, Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service, Ohio University

– Katie Harris, Legislative Director, BlueGreen Alliance
– More speakers to be announced

[] REGISTER TODAY!

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in_person_event_featured

Philadelphia Chapter Meeting

Investors Circlehas catalyzed the deployment over $275M into impactful early stage businesses since its inception in 1987. Each year IC members invest in dozens of innovative entrepreneurs who are working to solve major social and environmental problems.

Join the Philadelphia chapter as we review two presentations from innovative and impactful entrepreneurs. We will announce the companies to pitch a week prior to the meeting, with GUST links to review. If you have an investment opportunity that you would like considered for the meeting, please have the entrepreneur submit an application. We encourage you to bring potential members as our guests. Please let us know in advance so that we can welcome your guest at the meeting.

Meets the 2nd Wednesdayof every month at 1:30-4:30PM ET. Does not meet during Summer Break for July and August.

This is a hybrid virtual/in-person meeting. Contact [] jillian[] @asbnetwork.orgto join and receive the invitation, names of the companies pitching, and address/zoom link.

Investors Circle is open to ASBN Core-level and higher Members only.You must be an SEC-Accredited investor to participate in IC.​Sign up to be a member [RELINK LOCAL] to participate.

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