I’ve had a busy month spread over Detroit, Jersey City, Chicago, and New York connecting with BALLE Network Leaders. Through our discussions, several themes have emerged, but one area of inquiry has stood out to me personally: How can BALLE catalyze a greater shift in capital to address the most urgent needs in our communities? […]
Building the Foundations of Economies That Work For All
The first immersion of the 2018 BALLE Local Economy Fellows took place April 22-26 at Evan’s Mill, a nature-and-retreat center in Smithville, Tennessee, a small town that is about an hour east of Nashville. For BALLE, this marks its fifth class of Fellows, meaning that a sizeable Fellowship “alumni” network now exists. It also means that […]
Building a Local Peace Economy: We Have the Power
Many activists don’t seem to think it matters where they spend their money. BALLE co-founder Judy Wicks knows otherwise. She shares this perspective in AlterNet’s new series, which explores the need for rethinking how we organize our lives and economy to be more just, peaceful, and sustainable.
Local Economy Investors Circle Pioneering Place-Based Impact Investing
A growing number of visionary local economy funders and investors are working in particular geographic regions and using their philanthropic and investment resources in an integrated way toward this transition: we call this place-based impact investing. Over the last two years, BALLE Investors Circle participants have been innovating and exploring new ways to combine philanthropy […]
February Local Economy Leaders in the News
Last month James Johnson-Piett was named one of the 100 most influential people on Brooklyn’s culture, Carol Newell was recognized for her place-based impact investing leadership, Jessica Norwood’s efforts to build wealth for African Americans were showcased by Neighborhood Economics, and more.
Michelle Long & Re>Think Local Talk Localism Strategies with Radio Woodstock
BALLE executive director, Michelle Long, recently chatted with Radio Woodstock’s Peter Buffett and Re>Think Local’s Kale Kaposhilin and Ajex Greene about localism strategies that are helping to shape the new economy and build stronger communities.
Will Impact Investing Join the Challenge of Addressing America’s Racial Divide?
Impact investment can be an important tool in addressing the racial wealth gap if impact investors think of their work as not only placing investments in individual funds or businesses, but as part of an active strategy to foster systemic change.
A New Kind of Resolution: Financial Fitness & Banking with Values
Impact investor Kristin Hull writes, “when setting goals for the new year, whatever they may be, let’s not forget about financial fitness.” Read more for tips on how and why to move your money so you’re banking in line with your values.
BALLE at Etsy, Awakening the Heart of the Entrepreneur
Together, BALLE and Etsy.org are exploring a number of initiatives. Last month BALLE ED Michelle Long joined Etsy Foundation leaders in Brooklyn to serve as a field guide leading a weekend immersion for their pilot “business school for the regenerative entrepreneur.” While there, she offered a mini version of the Well-Being in Business Lab program […]
August Local Economy Leaders in the News
In August, Andrea Chen’s work supporting New Orleans entrepreneurs saw widespread national and local coverage during the 10th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina; Kimberlee Williams was selected to lead a World Economic Forum initiative in Newark; Joel Solomon’s leadership in impact investing was featured in Forbes Magazine; and more.
Place-Based Impact Investors Bonny Meyer, Joel Solomon Profiled in Forbes
Place-based impact investing has caught the attention of the mainstream media, as evidenced by two recent stories in Forbes Magazine. The increased coverage shows how far the “crazy idea that investors can make money and change the world at the same time,” has come.
Community Wealth: Building the Field, Building a Movement
Over the last decade, Steve Dubb of The Democracy Collaborative has seen incredible shifts in the work being done around North America building community wealth and economic systems that work for more people. In this first part of a two-part series, learn more about Steve’s journey to this work in Localism and social justice and […]
Watch It Again: Scaling the Development of Worker-Owned Cooperatives
July 16, Hilary Abell, Andrew Delmonte, and Steve Dubb shared insights into how developing cooperatives — and building the ecosystem to help them succeed — is an invaluable tool in community and economic development. Learn how to build the capacity for this model within your community, how to train those creating or converting to shared ownership, […]
The Apple Interview
Latest from the GreenMoney Interview Series SOURCE: GreenMoney Journal DESCRIPTION: GreenMoney Interview Series: “The Apple Interview” Featuring Jacky Haynes, Senior Director of Supplier Responsibility at Apple being interviewed by Bennett Freeman, former Senior VP for Sustainability Research and Policy at Calvert Investments __________________________ Introduction by Bennett Freeman, who was the Senior Vice President for Sustainability […]
Is Regenerative Capitalism a Spiritual Quest?
By Robert Kropp. John Fullerton of the Capital Institute authors an admirable paper on what he calls Regenerative Capitalism, but how do we get from the here of exploitation to there? First of a three-part series. SocialFunds.com — Several mornings ago, I opened my email and found myself gifted by an intensely creative close friend […]
Changing Capital: Four Strategies for Shifting Capital to Communities
By Sarah Trent This is the third in a three-part series featuring Local Economy Fellow Jessica Norwood. Below, read about four strategies ECN is implementing to change how capital works for under resourced communities in the Black Belt. In part one, learn about Jessica’s journey to Localism and her passion for changing how capital works to support communities. […]
Watch It Again: Building an Ecosystem for Place-Based Investing
Purchase Now! Recorded April 2015 Cost $10 With new generations of local financial institutions, community foundations, and supportive public policies, pathways have opened for trillions of dollars to move from Wall Street to Main Street. Innovative leaders are changing the way that capital works, moving away from a system that perpetuates inequality and toward place-based […]
Joel Salatin and Van Jones join speaker slate for #BALLE2015
We are excited to announce that Joel Salatin and Van Jones will join the lineup of visionaries speaking at our 13th annual conference this June 10-12 in Phoenix. Joel of Polyface Farm – often considered America’s most influential farmer – will join Sallie Calhoun (Paicines Ranch), Mark Tilsen (Native American Natural Foods), and Nikki Silvestri […]
Robert Rubinstein: Millennial Recruitment and Impact Investing
For the past 25 years, I have been hearing how corporate social responsibility (CSR) and sustainability will be critical for the corporate world on three levels: Finance Personnel Reputation If a company wanted to attract the best and the brightest and retain that talent, they would have to anchor CSR and sustainability in all their […]