Past Events
2005
SBN Seminar: Hope for the Future, September 16th
Topic: Local Living Economies Amont Mid-India's Villagers
Co-Sponsored by the Delaware Valley Green Building Council
University of Pennsylvania Law School, Room 240B
5pm-6:30pm
India, where 500 million people earn less than $1 per day, seems a
world away from Philadelphia, yet many of the basic principles of
sustainability and local living economies remain the same. Come
see and hear how one Philadelphian's experience amid India's villages,
the "real India" according to Gandhi, illustrate the connections that
can sustain our one, shared world and people.
SBN Members' Picnic, August 6th
Hildacy Farm Preserve, Marple Township, PA
10am-2pm
The Sustainable Landscapes Building Block hosted the first SBN Members'
Picnic on Saturday, Augsut 6th at Hildacy Farm Preserve, the award
winning, sustainable designed headquarters of Natural Lands Trust near
Media, PA. The day included food, fun and a tour of the 54-acre
nature preserve featuring our own building block expers explaining
state-of-the-art examples of green architecture, native plant gardens,
storm water management wetlands, meadow alternatives to lawn, forested
stream buffers and more. This members only event was an
opportunity for SBN members to get to know each other and our families
as a community. We plan this as an annual tradition.
SBN Holistic Business Networking Event, July 22nd
6PM-7:30PM
Co-Sponsored by the Yoga Living Institute.
Join the Sustainable Business Network for a networking event and seminar featuring Health & Wellbeing. Meet health practitioners from across the region. Learn ways to reduce stress in your life. Discuss ways to bring holistic healing to a wider audience. Connect with people who share your values! More info...
June Independent Media Seminar, June 30th
When: 6 pm
Where: Scribe Video Center-4212 Chestnut Street in West Philly. Entrance is
on Chestnut Street. Street parking is available on Chestnut. Take El to 4Oth
Street Station.
Overview: The keynote speaker for this event will be Juana Pnce de Leon,
Director of Grassroots Media Programs for IPA-NY and the editor of their
aclaimed translation service, Voices That Must Be Heard, will speak about
supporting independent media entrepreneurs. Her talk will be followed by a
panel discussion with local media activists.
Cost: $5 for SBN, IMC and Scribe members. Sliding scale of $6-$10 for all
others depending on ability to pay.
Who: SBN is hosting this event in conjunction with the Independent Media
Center of Philadelphia and Scribe Video Center.
SBN Annual Conference, May 20-21st
University of Pennsylvania School of Law
This year's conference convened people from throughout the Northeast
to explore how we can work together, overcome challenges and pave the way to
a more sustainable future for our region. Experts on sustainability and
thought leaders in the sustainability movement led panels on diverse
topics ranging from the importance of supporting local businesses to
Sustainable Agriculture.
for more info, click here.
2005 International Conference for BALLE (Business Alliance for Local Living Economies), June 2-5
Vancouver, Canada
Topics included:
Best practices of local business networks
Local Living Economy business models
Bringing capital back to our communities
Public policy changes for a positive future
Education for sustainability
Equity & diversity in sustainable businesses
Organizing Local First campaigns
Connecting local economies globally
NEW for 2005: Local First Trade Show and exhibition!
Register now! Go to www.ballebc.com http://www.ballebc.com and click
on Step 1: Register Here! The early bird rate of $235 (Canadian dollars) is
only available to those who register before March 15th. The conference
registration fee goes up to $300 (Canadian dollars) before May 1st and $325
(Canadian dollars) after that.
for more info, click here.
SBN Film Screening: "The End of SBN Film Screening: The End of Suburbia: Oil Depletion and The Collapse of the American Dream"
April 19th, 6:00PM-8:30PM, Arch Street Meeting House
$10 entrance (includes refreshments)
Since World War II, North Americans have invested much of our newfound wealth in suburbia and a sense of space, affordability and upward mobility that has become the American Dream. But is this way of life sustainable? With brutal honesty and a touch of irony. The End of Suburbia explores the American way of life and its prospects as the planet approaches a critical era, as global demand for fossil fuels begins to surpass supply. This film asks, What can be done NOW, individually and collectively, to avoid the end of suburbia? Following the film, a panel of local experts will respond from the perspective of different economic sectors food, transportation, energy, etc.
Join us for this inspiring look at WHY we need to work towards a local living economy, and what our world could look like if we don't!
Fair Trade Coffee Seminar on February 22nd in Philadelphia
Join the Sustainable Business Network for our bi-monthly Networking Event & Seminar on February 22nd at Mugshots Coffee House! Well learn why choosing Fair Trade coffee matters (and what the term, "Fair Trade," really means), hear from SBN members who organized their own buying cooperative to make Fair Trade purchases and sample Fair Trade coffee from around the world. The RSVP list for this event is currently filled to capacity.
Sustainable Business Management with Dr. Jim Fava on January 21, 2005
Dr. Jim Fava is Managing Director of Five Winds International, a
management-consulting firm that helps organizations improve the economic,
environmental and social performance – the sustainability – of their
operations, products and services.
2004
SBN Holiday Party on December 9th
SBN held its 3rd Annual Holiday Party at Yards Brewery– this tradition is
not to be missed! We have the best food, drink, music and people in
town!
SBN Renewable Energy Seminar & Networking Meeting on Oct 26th
Join the Sustainable Business Network for a seminar & networking event featuring Renewable Energy on October 26. John Hanger, President of PennFuture will give us the lowdown on renewable energy in the region. The seminar features small group roundtables with renewable energy providers and a networking reception. For more information.
Social Venture Institute
November 17–18, 2004
At the Social Venture Institute, join business owners and social
entrepreneurs for an intensive inquiry into how to face the day-to-day
challenges of running a business that has a positive impact on the community
and environment.
For more info, click
here.
SBN Capital Seminar & Dance of the Ripe Tomatoes on Sept 10
Join the Sustainable Business Network for a seminar & networking event featuring Community Capital & Finance. We’ll discuss how money circulates in our region – and how we can direct more of it to locally-owned businesses that value community and the environment. This seminar will feature a panel of leaders who run banks, loan funds, business development centers and other financing organizations. The seminar will be followed by the “Dance of the Ripe Tomatoes” at the White Dog Cafe – a celebration of local farmers with dinner & dancing.
SBN Networking Meeting & Seminar on Reuse and Recycling on June 23rd
Join SBN members and supporters for a wine & cheese networking event
at Philadelphia's premier site for architectural salvage The
ReStore. Take a tour of the ReStore, hear from SBN members who work on
reuse & recycling issues in the region and meet new people who share
your commitment to our community and environment!
SBN Sustainable Landscapes Seminar & Networking Event on July 16
The Sustainable Landscapes Building Block is hosting their second SBN
informational and interactive meeting at the Schuylkill Center for
Environmental Education. The event includes a walking tour of the site, a
discussion of sustainable site design & using native plants, and a
chance to enjoy the company of SBN members who are interested in ecosystem
restoration.
Bringing Sustainable Practices to Your Business or Community:
What we can learn from the Eco-municipalities of Sweden on April
29th.
National BALLE Conference May 20-23rd.
BALLE conference participants will include internationally renowned
authors, independent business owners, community and economic development
professionals, government officials, and community leaders. Panel
discussions and workshops will explore key issues and generate ideas and
action plans for stimulating local living economies throughout our
country.
For more
info, click here.
Practical Tips to Grow Your Business - Seminar & Networking March 18th
Join the Sustainable Business Network for an evening of high-impact business advice. We will have an array of experts available to share their insights & strategies for successful business growth get hooked into the resources in our region! Learn about the opportunities for marketing to socially and environmentally concerned consumers. Also hear the stories of three local entrepreneurs who are striving to run successful enterprises while also meeting the needs of their community and the environment. Opportunities available to showcase your business during the reception.
Networking Event & Seminar on February 11th at the University of Pennsylvania.
We'll hear from the leaders of innovative local resource centers, learn
from a panel on using technology to do business & save resources, and
enjoy wine & cheese at a networking reception. We will also have
showcase tables available for businesses to display information at the
reception.
2003
Holiday Party! December 10th, 6:30-9:00pm at Yards Brewery
Relax and enjoy good food & drink with SBN members and their friends and family - everyone is welcome! A great chance to get to know the many people behind SBN at the best brewery in Philadelphia! Grupo Motivos, a local catering company specializing in Puerto Rican delicacies, will provide dinner. Yards Brewery will provide beer, the event space, and tour of the facility.
November 5th Reception and talk with David Korten
author of When Corporations Rule the World at the Arch Street Meeting House (at 4th and Arch St. in Olde City).
November 5-7 our Social Venture Institute
a conference for budding entrepreneurs.
September 12th Seminar on Local Clothing & Textiles
Plus an Address from Philadelphia Mayoral Candidates Sam Katz (confirmed) and Mayor Street (invited)
We will have networking time, with wine and cheese, and a members' meeting followed by a presentation on the clothing & textile industry in our region. Hear tales and get business advice from a designer, a retailer, a manufacturer and a marketer. AND see an eclectic showcase of fashions and products from local business people. The mayoral candidates will also make an address to the SBN memebership.
July 8th SBN Members’ Meeting and Seminar on Landscape & Habitat Diversity at the Tyler Arboretum.
The seminar featured sustainable landscaping and habitat restoration businesses, and business opportunities in this field. The program also included a talk by Mark Gormel, a local nature photographer and native plant consultant. This event was hosted by the SBN Landscape & Habitat Diversity Building Block.
The BALLE National Conference was May 30-June 1, 2003 in Portland, OR.
With networks from across the country, we discussed strategies for de-centralized growth, connecting people to a sense of place, "Buy Local" campaigns, building community through business, policy changes that can strengthen community businesses, exit strategies in a Local Living Economy, organizing local business networks, and deep analysis and case studies of great examples of regional cooperation in each of the building blocks of a Local Living Economy!
SBN Annual Conference: May 3, 2003 at the University of Pennsylvania.
Our Annual Conference offered an opportunity for businesses, organizations and individuals to learn how to improve the "triple bottom line" from sustainable business experts in our workshops, connect with each other, and celebrate the strength and vitality of a Local Living Economy by enjoying local food, fashion, art and music! We presented with the May 1-3 "Building the Town Green" Conference on green building, green power and green transportation.
