November 2019 Newsletter: Waiting for the “next economy”

Jay OwenSRI/ESG News

By Jenny Kassan

I have been attending Social Venture Circle (fka Social Venture Network) conferences for about 10 years, and they never disappoint. These conferences attract business and finance leaders of all ages to discuss how business and investing can transform our world and hasten the arrival of the “next economy”—one that provides health, happiness, and sustainable prosperity for all.

One of the highlights of the 2019 conference was a conversation between SVC Executive Director Valerie Red-Horse Mohl and Anand Giridharadas, author of Winners Take All.

Anand’s book was difficult for many in the impact investing and social enterprise space to read. Anand called out changemakers for “falling prey to . . . a belief in ‘changing the world’ in ways that tend to keep it the same, in using the tools of hypercapitalism to soften its blows, all while refusing to question the system generating the problems.”

Presentations by Morgan Simon, Diana Marie Lee, Taij Kumarie Moteelall, Hope Lehman, Nathalie Molina Niño, Derek Razo, and many more (including me!) provided glimpses of what a truly just, sustainable, and regenerative economy and financial system would look like.

While it is true that some who call themselves impact investors are doing more harm than good by providing a fig leaf of respectability for rapacious, extractive finance, many speakers at the SVC conference delved into the hard questions and put forth radical ideas—exactly what is needed in this time of growing wealth inequality, economic insecurity, and political disengagement.

Client Corner

At Jenny Kassan Consulting we are privileged to work with inspiring mission-driven entrepreneurs. Each month we feature one or more of our clients to celebrate their success and learn about the challenges they face.

Last year, the California based non-profit Fibershed worked with Jenny Kassan Consulting to form an agricultural cooperative called The Northern California Fibershed Cooperative, which has recently completed a successful capital raise.The mission of The Northern California Fibershed Cooperative is to provide stability and lasting prosperity for independent producers who own and operate farms and ranches; and for those who create goods from locally grown materials within our Northern California Fibershed. Products are sold through the Fibershed Marketplace, pop-up shops, and market booths. In addition to promoting the use and production of regionally grown materials, the co-op supports the community to enhance and restore the soil, water, and health of the biosphere.We are thrilled this season to have a holiday booth at the San Francisco Ferry Building farmers market. Dates are: November 23, November 30, and December 21 from 8AM – 2PM. Some of our products include clothing such as hats, mittens, scarves and shawls; housewares such as woven and sheepskin rugs; beautiful sheep’s wool and alpaca yarns; cotton and wool fabrics; natural dyes…plus much more! Please visit us and do some holiday shopping at our market booth!