Sustainable Connections - Transforming a Community

Peak Moment 75: Michelle Long shows us how a highly successful local independent business network has transformed Bellingham, WA, while inspiring other communities. From an initial "Think Local First" program, they have expanded to business peer mentoring, and support for local food producers, sustainable buildings, and green energy. An astounding sixty percent of their community are not only aware of the "Think Local, Buy Local, Be Local" campaign but have changed buying habits as well.
[www.sustainableconnections.org]

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• sustainable
• connections
• balle
• business
• local
• economy
• bellingham
• food
• mentoring
• sustainability

[peakmoment]

A viewer asked, " i'm curious as to the current status of this perspective. thanks for having shared this video on YT"

Sustainable Connections is still going strong in Bellingham, Washington. It was the model for the Business Alliance for Local Living Economies (BALLE), a national business network. Michelle is the BALLE executive director. We taped a show with her in 2010 but not produced it yet.

[dnHooligan]

buy local...from a store that imports its products???

completely unsustainable.

[peakmoment]

I think we're going to have to work our way to sustainable, in stages. America produces very little of what it needs, anymore. If we start with local stores, we keep more money in our community. As local owners network and support each other, hopefully they'll begin to carry goods produced by local people. It'll take demand for local products to help encourage local production. Food is a good place to start.

[bramwellwright]

Great! Now to have Michelle thinking outwards to what happens on a wider even global scale when active local communities become normal...

[peakmoment]

She is. Michelle is on the board of BALLE, Business Alliance for Local Living Economies, which is a national network of businesses doing many of the things she's done. If you want more in-depth info, we produced a DVD of her full-length presentation. On the peakmoment(.)tv website.

[gaiagale]

@peakmoment your comment is precisely the point 'buy locally' "Every community" has people with this "kind of enthusiasm and entrepreneurship, networking to build strong business communities that support local" ...that local businesses are surviving in this day is the evidence ...just a fhought

that aside I just found this video (after having watched the transportation rethink ...newest video) i'm curious as to the current status of this perspective

thanks for having shared this video on YT

[peakmoment]

It's disappointing to hear that your locally-owned stores don't have broader employment policies. I hope you consider mentioning your experience to the owners or managers sometime.

[dinosaurtattoo]

you musnt say that! pretend that your just interested in Sustainabillity and keep nodding your head when in fact we know reallly.. what your mind is on... and that aint a postoil society ;-)

[GardenCityGuy]

I'm just so impressed by Sustainable Connection's brilliant planning & execution of a highly comprehensive plan for making significant changes to a community's sustainability, by their effective documentation of their impact (real data, not just impressions), and by Michelle's eloquent & compelling descriptions and her willingness to share with other interested communities. In Olympia, Washington, Sustainable South Sound just launched a Buy Local campaign modeled after hers; it's going great.

[dnHooligan]

i agree. communities need to work on becoming independent from transportation.

burning petroleum is just as unsustainable (and dangerous) as importing resources.