in_person_event_featured

ASBN Live event SEC’s Director Renee Jones on Climate-Related Disclosures for Investors

American Sustainable Business Network invites members to join us Wednesday, April 13th at 3pm ET for a webinar featuring Renee Jones, Director of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s Division of Corporation Finance. Director Jones will be addressing the SEC’s proposed rule that would enhance and standardize registrants’ climate-related disclosures for investors.

The enhancement and standardization of climate-related disclosures is overdue and urgently needed to help investors and American businesses compete effectively in an economy that needs to move faster than it is today towards decarbonization. Under today’s governance, businesses and investors working to decrease or eliminate their impact on the climate crisis do not have a level playing field when it comes to reporting and assessing climate-related topics and validating suitable investment choices. Investors and business owners, and consequently their impact on the climate crisis, will benefit from greater transparency and accountability proposed by the SEC.

Read ASBN’s press release on the proposed rule for more information: https://www.asbnetwork.org/media-release/secs-proposed-climate-related-disclosure-requirements-are-big-step-right-direction [RELINK LOCAL]

[] Register for SECs Climate-Related Disclosures for Investors

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Virtual Event

Skoll World Forum: Inclusive Economic Prosperity for All- An Integrated Stakeholder Approach

American Sustainable Business Council is pleased to be hosting a virtual Skoll World Forum Ecosystem Day event.There is a massive need for investment in overlooked, under-resourced, and underestimated communities across the United States. The good news is that there are a growing number of communities taking ownership of their economies. There are more local developments and enterprises emerging that are helping to build more just, inclusive, and sustainable communities and economies. Learn about investable examples throughout the U.S. that are deploying capital, real estate, policy, design, and climate solutions to uplift their communities from within. This conversation amongstValerie Red-Horse Mohl(East Bay Community Foundation),Carmen Huertas-Noble(1 Worker 1 Vote),Damien Goodmon(Downtown Crenshaw),Clay Colombe(Rosebud Sioux Economy Development Corporation), andApril De Simone(Trahan Architects) will cover compelling case-studies and the necessary public policy solutions required to implement this work on a broader scale.

The 2022SkollWorld Forum is free and open to all.REGISTERfor the larger forum by April 4th.

[] Register for Inclusive Economic Prosperity for All

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Member Event Livable Planet Working Group

The Livable Planet working group is dedicated to identifying systems and solutions that enable all life to thrive. Our main focus next week will be planet-positive, transformative finance.Andrew Nieblerwill brief us on B-CorpKarner Blue Capital‘s biodiversity positive finance mission, and share insights into the road blocks they are encountering. Attendees will brainstorm ideas for overcoming these obstacles and for amplifying systems-changing work. Join ASBN [RELINK LOCAL] to get involved today.

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ASBN Live: WALDEN MUTUAL BANK: Seeking the First New Mutual Bank Charter in a Generation

American Sustainable Business Network invites you to join us Wednesday, February 16th at 1pm ET to discuss Walden Mutual Bank, an interactive [] webinar with Charley Cummings, CEO and Vince Sicilliano, Board Chair.

Walden Mutual Bank is seeking the first new mutual bank charter granted in a generation, to support lending in the sustainable local food ecosystem in New England and New York, while offering consumer deposit accounts aligned with social and environmental impact. Cummings will describe how mutual banks, which are ultimately owned by depositors and governed by a board of independent Corporators, are ripe for reinvention in the modern era. The Bank intends to open in the second quarter of 2022, and is seeking investment in its Special Deposits, which serve as the bank’s regulatory capital.

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Restore. Regenerate. Re-imagine.

ASBC-SVC 2021: Restore. Regenerate. Re-imagine. is a convening that exists to accelerate our work towards creating an economy that works for all: one that is regenerative, equitable, and creates shared prosperity through our businesses, investments, and activities. ASBC and SVC have a uniquely potent ability to build the large-scale movement of profound economic and public policy change the world so desperately needs.

The conference will offer a blend of engaging main stage sessions, action-oriented breakout workshops, one-on-one peer advising, a live pitch event, small peer groups, and lots of time to connect and build relationships with your fellow attendees. By popular demand, additional networking opportunities, entertainment, and more will be featured throughout the program.

ASBC-SVC 2021 believes that a deep institutional understanding of the need for and the use of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion must be at the foundation for how we conduct ourselves, our businesses, and our investments, as we cultivate and grow our community and programs. With clear intent and earnest effort, we will engage and grow our community, and seek leaders in the field to ensure that our impact matches our vision.

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Businesses for Conservation & Climate Action: Navigating 30×30 and Beyond

Hear from national Indigenous and community-based business leadersas we discuss a key opportunity to build an economic movement for equitable and durable conservation. We invite all sustainable business and investment leaders to participate in our ongoing initiative.

President Biden’s Executive Order 14008 initiated a multi-year process to conserve biodiversity and habitats, address climate change, and enhance the resilience of our natural resources and communities with Indigenous leadership, racial justice and equity, and meaningful stakeholder engagement at the core. Our mission is to meet this moment, advancing conservation ideas and principles directly from BIPOC and community-based business leaders to decision makers.

Join us as we advance policies to achieve meaningful conservation wins while ensuring that sustainable businesses and communities thrive

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in_person_event_featured

2021 ASBC – SVC Spring Conference

This virtual conference, building on the success of the premier virtual event in 2020, exists to facilitate meaningful peer-to-peer conversations and action around shared interests for the 1,000+ members of ASBC-SVC: businesses, entrepreneurs, impact investors, policy makers, and capacity-builders working to create an economy that works for all.

AGENDA & SPEAKERS

Conference programming is under development and the sessions below are subject to change.The conference will feature a blend of main stage, small group breakout, and peer-to-peer networking sessions.

Note: All times below are indicated in Eastern Time (ET).

Day 1 – Monday, April 19

10:00-10:30am Coffee with friends

10:55am-12pm Mainstage Session

10:55-11am Musical performance by Taína Asili

11am-12pm Climate & Racial Justice: The Nexus of the NEXT Economy with Ibrahim Al-Husseini (FullCycle), Xiuhtezcatl Martinez (Earth Guardians). Moderator: Seungah Jeong (MPOWERD).

1-2pm Small Group Breakouts

Climate Positive Business: How Businesses Hit Bold Climate Goals and Go Net Zero with David Jaber (Climate Positive Consulting), Elysa Hammond (Clif Bar), Carolina Miranda (Cultivating Capital)

How Business Leaders Can Become Film Producers for Impact! Learn How Impactful Business Leaders Have Invested in Film Storytelling That Inspires Stakeholder-Action with Greg Hemmings (Hemmings House) and Lisa Hrabluk (Wicked Ideas / Hemmings House)

High ROI: Inclusive Talent Development Strategies for the Investment Field with James Benedict (Left Tackle Capital), Deborah Frieze (Boston Impact Initiative), Lauren Grattan (Mission Driven Finance).

Compassion as a Business Practice with Carson D. Kelly (Benevolently and Compassion 2.0), Scott Shute (LinkedIn and author of “”Full Body Yes”), and Monica Worline (EnlivenWork, Stanford University’s Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education, CompassionLab, Co-author “”Awakening Compassion at Work”).

Addressing the racial wealth gap through models of employee equity ownership in businesses with Todd Leverette (Democracy at Work Institute)

2:30-3:30pm Small Group Breakouts

Making Impact Measurement Manageable with Adam Garfunkel (Junxion), Mike Rowlands (Junxion), Garth Yule (Junxion).

Towards a More Inclusive, Democratic, and Sustainable Capital Marketplace: Expanding Opportunities for Grassroots Investors to Invest for Community Impact with Ken Linge, Executive Director of the National Coalition for Community Capital (NC3)), Brian Beckon (NC3 Founding Board Member and Managing Attorney at Cutting Edge Counsel), Chris Miller (NC3 Board Chair and Economic Development Consultant), Janice Shade (NC3 Founding Board Member and Founder of The Initiative for Local Capital), Kathleen Minogue (Founder and CEO of Crowdfund Better), and Bill Huston (former NC3 Board Member and Crowdfunding Consultant).

How angels and private investment can be done alongside government for deep impact with Drew Tulchin (Upspring Associates).

4-5pm Peer Networking

Day 2 – Tuesday, April 20

10:00-10:30am Coffee with friends

10:55am-12pm Mainstage Session

10:55-11am Musical performance by Taína Asili

11am-12 pm How Impact Business Leaders Can Meaningfully Advance Racial Justice with Rose Yee (Green Retirement), Diana Marie Lee (Sweet Livity), Nikki Pieratos (NDN Fund), and Anasa Troutman (The BIG We).

1-2pm Small Group Breakouts

Sustained Change for a New Economy: The Work of Building Diverse, Equitable & Inclusive Communities Continues with Diane J. Johnson (Mmapeu Consulting).

How are investors, businesses and young people advancing clean energy policies – and how can you be part of the movement? with Johanna Neumann (Environment America Campaign for 100% Renewable Energy), Dan Xie (CALPIRG), Andrea Ranger (Green Century Capital Management).

Transforming Ownership for Social Equity

Every Dollar a Vote: How to Make the Most of Where You Spend, Invest, and Bank

2:30-3:30pm Small Group Breakouts

Restorative Investing for Racial Justice: Learning more about the Tanka Bar Investment with Aner Ben-Ami (Candide Group), Dawn Sherman (Tanka Bar), Laina Greene (Angels of Impact).

Low-Hanging Fruit To Have More Impact – And Help Your Team Do the Same with Nell Derick Debevoise (Inspiring Capital).

Managing Your Harshest Critic: That Person You See in the Mirror with Flip Brown (Business Culture Consultants and the Wholistic Work network) and Amy Hall (EILEEN FISHER and Impactorum, LLC).

How Can Business, Philanthropy & Investors Promote Climate Justice? with Mike Lapham (Responsible Wealth/United for a Fair Economy), Karen Brown Stovell (Forward Ever), and others TBA.

4-5pm Peer Networking

Day 3 – Wednesday, April 21

10:00-10:30am Coffee with friends

10:55am-12pm Mainstage Session

10:55-11am Musical performance by Taína Asili

11am-12pm Building Back Better: What Comes Next

1-2pm Small Group Breakouts

Reconnection, Regeneration, and Healthy Ecosystems are DOA without action.. Get in on the act with the New Living Planet Working Group! with Sierra Flanigan (Living Lab), Annarie Lyles (Bio-Gist Ventures), Janet M Morgan (Sequent Management Group)

Crowdfunding for Investors & Entrepreneurs with Jenny Kassan (Opportunity Main Street and CrowdFund Main Street),Samson Williams (Crowdfunding Professional Association),Arno Hesse (Investibule and Slow Money Northern California), Sharmi Albrechtsen (SmartGurlz, Inc – check out the Wefunder campaign), Adie Akuffo-Afful (Wefunder).

The Impact Spectrum: From Steward Ownership to IPO with Jason Jones (co-founder, Vital Farms), Matt Mroczek (VP Finance, OGC), Nancy Rosenzweig (Principal, Values Aligned Capital), Peter Koehler (Capital Strategy Advisor, AOA).

2:15-5:30pm ASBC Working Group Discussions

4-5pm Closing Session

Day 4 – Wednesday, April 22 (Open to the public)

11am-12pm Centering Climate Justice in Climate Action with Dr. Ellonda Williams (B Lab), Kevin Lee (Dr. Bronner’s), Valerie Red-Horse Mohl (East Bay Community Foundation & ASBC’s Race & Equity Leadership Team) and moderator: Diandra Marizet (Intersectional Environmentalist).

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Virtual Event

The Art of Activating Money For Good

Chances are, you spend a lot of time thinking about money: how to move it, how to grow it, and how to activate more of it to have the greatest possible impact. What are the big questions you’re sitting with? What’s holding you back?

Join Amy Hartzler (Do Good Better), Deb Nelson (RSF Social Finance) and Kristin Hull (Nia Impact Capital) on January 21 at 1pm ET to hear about the big money myths, the power of storytelling, and ways capital can create a more sustainable and just world.

For a preview of a part of their webinar, check out this short video and website, Transform Your Money (moneytransforms.com)

In partnership with JumpScale, The Accountkeepers, Bromberger Law, SustainVC, GoodCarts, Trillium Asset Management, Perlman & Perlman, Barclays, Junxion, and Hanson Bridgett.

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in_person_event_featured

Restorative Finance for the NEXT Economy

The NEXT economy requires the “centering on healing and restoration of vulnerable communities who have been marginalized and oppressed by a polluting and extracting economy.”

Join Social Venture Circle and the American Sustainable Business Council, January 6, 2021, 1-2pm ET as we host this interactive discussion on restorative finance featuring Nwamaka Agbo (CEO, Kataly Foundation and Nwamaka Agbo Consulting; Nwamaka coined the term “restorative economics”), Vanessa Roanhorse (Founder, Roanhorse Consulting and Native Women Lead), and Mark Watson (Managing Director, Fair Food Network and Potlikker Capital Fund) in conversation with Laina Greene (CEO, Angels of Impact and GETIT, Inc.).

In partnership with JumpScale, The Accountkeepers, Bromberger Law, SustainVC, GoodCarts, Trillium Asset Management, Perlman & Perlman, Barclays, Junxion, and Hanson Bridgett.

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Business Case for H2O Infrastructure Webinar w/special guest Senator Reed (D- RI)

What’s the business case for investing in our deteriorated water infrastructure now? Past generations’ investment in U.S. municipal water systems have given us reliable, plentiful clean drinking water and sanitary waste disposal. But across the country, much of our infrastructure for managing wastewater and providing drinking water is inadequate, obsolete or seriously deteriorated. Despite our growing need, federal per capita spending on water infrastructure has dropped from $76 per person in 1977 to just $11 per person in 2014! Continued failure to address this major, essential infrastructure problem is increasingly detrimental to our economy and businesses nationwide.

The US is currently projected to lose $732 billion in business sales by 2029 and over $4.5 trillion by 2039; with 636,000 jobs lost each year by 2039, just from service disruptions and increasing services rates! These losses don’t even include the damage failing water infrastructure poses to the US economy through hazardous pollution and destructive flooding.

The business case for investing in our water infrastructure now – not someday – is clear. The return will be significant job creation, a better competitive position for U.S. businesses, and resilient economic growth.

Learn more: Join ASBC, Environment America, Susan Harris of Cerulean, LLC and Senator Jack Reed (D – Rhode Island) on November 19 for a special webinar on how failing water infrastructure endangers our businesses and the economy and how we can fix this problem before the cost is insurmountable. Government listens to business, so learn the facts!

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