Investing in Local Living Economies

Posted by on September 3, 2007

SBN Seminar: Investing in Local Living Economies
When: Wednesday, October 10th; 7PM – 9PM
Location: Penn State Great Valley
Musser Auditorium, Safeguard Scientifics Building
30 E. Swedesford Road (at the intersection of Route 202 and 29), Malvern, PA
Cost: This is a free seminar thanks to our sponsors at Penn State University, Great Valley
RSVP: via e-mail to leanne@sbnphiladelphia.org

Member companies of organizations affiliated with the Business Alliance for Local Living Economies (BALLE), like the Sustainable Business Network (SBN) of Greater Philadelphia, are locally owned and based companies that have a commitment to improving their social, environmental and economic performance. These companies are usually small or medium sized, privately held corporations. Socially responsible investing has been around for many years, yet often means investing in publicly owned corporations that meet social and environmental criteria. What role do these corporations have to play in building local communities where they operate? What other investment vehicles are available to support local community institutions? How can we invest in a way that supports a global network of local living economies and businesses like those that are members of sustainable business networks?

A distinguished panel moderated by Andy Smith, Philadelphia SBN board member, will address these issues on October 10th, in a program jointly sponsored by the Greater Philadelphia SBN and the Masters of Leadership Development program at Penn State University, Great Valley School of Graduate Professional Studies.

Panel members will include:
Sam Folin, partner in Benchmark Asset Managers. Sam has been involved with socially responsible investing for over 30 years.

Jay Coen Gilbert, co-founder of B-Lab, seeking to identify B-corporations, for benefit corporations that serve the interests of all stakeholders and institutionalize those interests while meeting comprehensive social and environmental standards.

Jeremy Nowak, President and CEO of the Reinvestment Fund, a
Philadelphia based national leader in financing community revitalization.

Mary Barrett, Managing Partner, Edgewood Partners, an investment advisory firm committed to Global Sustainable Investing.