The Progressive Opportunities Conference showcases the best work of nonprofits, companies, unions, activists, and government leaders; provides invaluable discussion on some of our most pressing economic issues; and provides us with new information and tools to actively participate in creating positive change.
Selected videos from the Progressive Opportunities sessions are listed alphabetically by session title below. Regretfully, we were only able to catch half of the sessions on camera. Also please accept our apologies for the inconsistency of some of our gracious volunteers’ filming.
ALL of the sessions were professionally audio-recorded and archived here for your learning and listening pleasure. They are now available for FREE brought to you by Hungry Mind Recording in partnership with the East Bay Express: Progressive Opportunities Conference 2012: Audio
B Corporation: a better way to do business
B Corporations are a new kind of company that uses the power of business to solve social and environmental problems. They meet transparent and
comprehensive standards of social and environmental performance. They also legally expand their corporate responsibilities to include consideration of
stakeholder interests. Being the hub of innovation and social enterprise, California now joined six other states to sign Benefit Corporation into law. This
panel will discuss the why and how to for companies to join this movement and amplify the voice for sustainable business.
Speakers –
Andy Fyfe, Community Development, B Lab – B Corporation; Michael Hannigan, President, Give Something Back Office Supplies; Matthew Bauer, President,
BetterWorld Telecom; Timothy Yee, President, Green Retirement Plans; Jonathan S. Storper, Partner, Hanson Bridgett, LLP
Speakers presented by – Faculty Member at the Presidio Graduate School
Crowdfunding for Local (Food) Economies (Part I)
Are you a social entrepreneur looking to raise money from friends, family, and community members? Are you a community member wondering how to support great
local farmers, artisans, and businesses supporting your local economy? How can you leverage both accredited and non-accredited investors? Learn about
innovative fundraising tools, public policy challenges and solutions, new financing vehicles, and local investment clubs.
Crowdfunding for Local (Food) Economies (Part II)
Discuss more real world examples and how to bring these tools and ideas to your community. This is a great chance to ask questions and discuss solutions
with our expert panel!
Speakers –
Mary Rick, VP, Marketing and Community, The Hoop Fund; Elizabeth Ü, Founder & Executive Director, Finance for Food; Jenny Kassan, Cutting Edge
Capital; Arno Hesse, Slow Money Northern CA
Speakers presented by
– Ariane Michas, Community Alliance with Family Farmers
Economic development for our communities – the potential of decentralized energy systems
Localized energy systems can address both the climate crisis and economic crisis of our cities, rolling back greenhouse gas emissions and providing clean
energy jobs. This presentation explores the economic and social benefits decentralized energy system can provide to our communities, and the kind of
policies and program needed to develop such a system.
Speaker –
Al Weinrub, Coordinator, Local Clean Energy Alliance
Speaker presented by – Carroll Moore, Organizer, East Bay Green Drinks
Laughter Against the Machine: Q&A
Comedians W. Kamau Bell, Nato Green and Janine Brito, are Laughter Against the Machine; a unique kind of comedy troupe where the audience expects to be
challenged, to laugh, and think at the same time. It’s an issue-oriented, no-holds-bar show with no preconceived expectations, no party lines, and
certainly no cheerleading – because they have beef with everybody, including themselves. This past fall, LATM set out to tour the nation’s most volatile
political hotspots, to find out what role comics can play in the revolution. After an successful fundraising campaign on Kickstarter, they shot a
documentary of their tour to the most politically polarized places in the USA. In addition to visiting Occupy Wall Street actions in seven cities across
the country.
Speakers – W. Kamau Bell, Nato Green, Evan Donn, Mike Paunovich
Speakers presented by –
Rachel Swan, Music Editor, East Bay Express
New community-building tech innovation presentation by LocalOn
Small business owners can learn about a new technology that promotes their business through a unique collaboration between East Bay Express, local
business associations, business districts, and all their social networking channels. This tool is super easy to use and saves merchants money and time in
promoting their businesses while vastly expanding their marketing reach.
Speakers –
Shahbano Imran and David Tolioupov, Founders, LocalOn; Shari Godinez, Executive Director, Koreatown Northgate Community Benefits District
Speakers presented by –
Terry Furry, Sales & Marketing Director, East Bay Express
Slow Money – investing as if food, farms, and fertility matter
Slow Money. ACRES USA calls it a “movement.” NPR calls it a “revolution.” One thing is for sure: what began with a book and a set of ideas three years ago
has blossomed into a network of investors, philanthropists, farmers, entrepreneurs, and everyday folks who are concerned about where their food comes from
and where their money goes. Today, over $12 million has been invested directly in small food enterprises through the Slow Money network, both nationally
and through over a dozen local chapters, one of which is in Northern California. We are still at the beginning and at the same time we are well on the way
to our goal of 1 million people investing 1% of their money in local food systems, this decade. Come learn how, in Wendell Berry’s words, these “millions
of small acts” can begin to rebuild our economy… from the ground up.
Speaker – Woody Tasch, Founder and Chairman, Slow Money
Speaker presented by – Temra Costa, Sustainable Food Advocate and Author of Farmer Jane
State and national small business policy and opportunities discussion
Changing public policy through advocacy in Sacramento and Washington is essential for building a robust and sustainable economy. David Brodwin will describe
their increasingly successful work to mobilize business leaders and create a counter-force in the media, supporting forward-looking policies to restore
American competitiveness and promote sustainable and socially-responsible growth.
Speakers – David Brodwin,
American Sustainable Business Council(Clip below)
Scott Hauge, President, Small Business California and Cal-Insure;(NOT filmed)
Sustainable communities – advancing clean energy, water efficiency, and smart growth in the East Bay
Join key public officials in a conversation about the opportunities for the East Bay to thrive with a sustainable economy and environment. The crisis
of climate change calls for resilient local action – hear what our representatives are doing to increase clean energy and energy efficiency at the
state and local levels. The East Bay and the city of Oakland is facing a crossroads, with the elimination of redevelopment agencies, but with
opportunities for an urban renaissance – how can cities move forward and encourage livable communities and sustainable transportation?
Speakers – Andy Katz, Director, East Bay Municipal Utility District; Assemblywoman Nancy Skinner, Representing the 14th District, State of California
Unions and the new economy
Those who advocate new economic forms speak a language of ethical treatment of all. Yet, visions of a new economy often neglect to consider effects on
workers, especially workers who perform more repetitive jobs. At the same time, the historic form of protections for workers – unions – has had a focus on
community and protection of all since their inception. Yet, unions have had difficulties adapting to changes in the old economy and have not fully entered
the conversation about a new economy. What is the role of unions in a new economy? How should new economy advocates think about this? How can these groups
work together? This session will explore these rich and perplexing questions.
Speakers – Carl Hall, Media Workers; John Logan,
Director of Labor and Employment Studies, San Francisco State University; Cindy Chavez, South Bay Labor Council (invited); Andreas Cluver, Building and
Construction Trades Council of Alameda County; Keiranne Steele, Associate, Weinberg, Roger & Rosenfeld; Jay Youngdahl, President, East Bay Express
and Partner, Youngdahl & Citti, P.C.
Visualizing a sharing economy – a cartoon guide to the policies and practices that are paving or blocking the way
Sharing is a key ingredient in the transition to a more sustainable world. Car sharing, shared housing, barter networks, gift circles, shared food gardens,
meal sharing, community energy projects, cooperatives, community-supported enterprises – these are just some examples of ways that sharing is becoming an
essential part of our economy and livelihoods. With the help of somewhat goofy cartoon slides, Janelle will discuss practical ideas and tools, ways of
overcoming barriers to sharing, and exciting new developments in the realm of sharing economies.
Speaker –
Janelle Orsi, Director, Sustainable Economies Law Center and Law Office of Janelle Orsi
Speaker presented by –
Marissa LaMagna, Executive Director, Bay Area Green Tours
Why Occupy changes everything and how to join with Occupy to build powerful coalitions for change
A discussion on how citizen action has altered the regional and national discussion on our economy, prompted individual and collective change, and has the
potential to further promote our transformation to a new more just and sustainable economy.
Speakers –
Sara Mizner, Occupy Oakland; Phoebe Sorgen, Occupy Berkeley; Maria Gastelumendi, Rising Loafer Cafe & Bakery; Scott Rossi, Occupy San Francisco
Speakers presented by – Susie Cagle, Freelance Journalist
Worker cooperatives – sustainable economic development
This session will focus on how worker cooperatives (workplaces owned and controlled by their workers) are an integral part of sustainable, local economic
development. Areas discussed will include the basics of worker cooperatives, the impact of worker cooperatives on local communities/economies, successful
models of worker cooperative development (start-ups), and barriers to growing the worker cooperative economy. Resources will also be available for
participants interested in working in/starting a worker cooperative or wanting to support workplace democracy in the Bay Area.
Speakers –
Dave Karoly, Staff, NoBAWC; Kasper Koczab, Staff, NoBAWC and East Bay Express; Jenny Kassan, Cutting Edge Capital; Paul Knowles,
Rainbow Grocery
A reminder that if there was a session you do not see listed here please go to Progressive Opportunities Conference 2012: Audio to search for the audio recording.
Thank you for Watching!
