WEversity

Mission

Sustainable Connections is a non-profit membership organization of well over 500 businesses and community leaders working to transform and model an economy built on sustainable practices.
Our Vision: We envision sustainable business practices that lead to a healthy environment, meaningful employment, strong communities and buying local first as commonplace in our region and a model for the rest of the world.

All of our members are local and independently owned businesses with the autonomy to make any transformational change in their business that they can imagine. We also enjoy supportive and creative community leaders as members.

Our members are re-examining how we grow, distribute, and sell our food, where we buy goods and services, how we consume energy, how we build homes, and ultimately, how we define success in business.

Sustainable Connections is supporting a community of innovators in green building, sustainable agriculture, renewable energy, supporting independent businesses in town centers, and mentoring a new breed of entrepreneurs. We connect these entrepreneurs to each other and to the marketplace, provide technical assistance to business and government -- and have a whole lot of fun while doing it!

Our team

Executive Director, Michelle Long: Michelle@Sconnect.org
Program and Development Director, (and Green Building inquiries), Derek Long: Derek@Sconnect.org
Program and Events Manager, Cathy Lehman: Cathy@Sconnect.org
Member Services and Office Coordinator, Michelle Grandy: MGrandy@Sconnect.org
Program Assistant, April Claxton: April@Sconnect.org
Food and Farming VISTA, Shonie Schlotzhauer: Shonie@Sconnect.org
Finance Manager, Barbara Werner: Barbara@Sconnect.org

Our programs

1- Food and farming
The Food & Farming Program focuses on three main things to bring about a healthy local food economy; to strengthen connections among local farms, food producers, restaurants, caterers, instutions, and the public ; and to preserve the rural character of Northwest Washington,.

1. Growing new farmers: Technical Assistance through ‘Food To Bank On’
This project of the Food & Farming Program connects brand-new sustainable farms with markets, training and mentorship while providing fresh veggies to Whatcom’s hungry.

2. Making Market Connections
A regional food economy is built on relationships; through the region's only Producer/Buyer Directory, local food trade meetings, and farm tours for chefs and retailers, we are working to make those connections.

3. Helping local people to Buy FRESH
The Think Local, Buy FRESH, Be Local Campaign educates the public about the economic, taste, and community value of local farms. Resources like the Whatcom Farm Map & Guide and Buy FRESH marketing materials as well as public events like Eat Local Week are raising awareness about the abundance and superior quality of our region’s farms.


2- Green Building and Sustainable Design
Promoting healthy, durable, efficient, and environmentally responsible homes, neighborhoods and workplaces through education, technical assistance and advocacy.


3- Sustainable Business Practices
Supporting business stewardship of our local community, environment, workplaces and economy. 4- Think Local First

Increasing awareness about the personal, community, and economic benefits of choosing local, independently owned businesses FIRST.
5- Business Connections & Events

Strengthening and connecting member businesses and growing more successful, socially and environmentally responsible, local businesses in our community.

History

Originally created in 1997 by Rick Dubrow of A-1 Builders and Chris Webb of 2020 Engineering; it was re-formed by Rick Dubrow, Cindi Landreth, Derek Long and a committee of local enterprise owners, with Michelle Long as coordinator, in 2001. Today our network is focused on Whatcom, Skagit, Island and San Juan Counties, a region, which faces significant local challenges. Great communities don't remain great without conscious choices. We believe it is up to us to make conscious decisions.

Events

December 04 - 10 2006
4th Annual Buy Local Week
Whatcom and Skagit Counties

December 04 - 04 2006
Author Stacy Mitchell
Mount Baker Theatre, Studio Room

December 05 - 05 2006
Buy FRESH Trade Meeting for Agricultural Producers and Buyers
YWCA Ballroom, 1026 N. Forest St. in Bellingham

December 14 - 14 2006
Green Building Conference: 2006
Bellingham Cruise Terminal
January 17 - 17 , 2007
5th Annual All Members Meeting and Holiday Party
Bellingham Cruise Terminal in Fairhaven