The Connection Magazine

Community Leadership Award

 

Contact:            Thom Coby and Pattie, co-publishers

Address:           317 A Cedar Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95060

Phone:              (831) 459-0522; Fax:  (831) 459-8820

Email:               tcoby@theconnect.com              Website:  www.theconnect.com

Product/Service:  Healthy Living and Conscious Lifestyles Publication  

 

The Connection Magazine is a monthly publication, distributed to the public at no cost.  It is intended to serve as a community forum to inspire readers to learn, enjoy and improve their lives.  It contains listings of local alternative businesses & professionals, articles and ads of interest for living healthy lives in harmony with the environment, book, movie and music reviews, and community event listings.

Economic Viability

In business since 1993, growing steadily every year, Connection Magazine now distributes more than 50,000 papers within four counties in the San Francisco Bay Area (Santa Cruz, Monterey, Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties).  Recently, a central Florida version of the paper was launched.  The founder’s vision is to have a Connection Magazine in every community in the world.

Social Equity

The Connection Magazine integrates the interests of the community with the overall business.  The company views itself as a forum: a way for people and businesses to connect.  Employees proactively gather information about the community through person-to-person contact during city functions and mixers, through letters-to-the-editor, suggestions from readers, reader surveys, at health fairs and festivals, and personal contacts with businesses and citizens. The company then incorporates this feedback in their day-to-day business.  For example, new columns have been initiated based on reader suggestions, which inspired the Sustainable Community Calendar and Understanding Gay Lifestyles.  Also, the publication enables local merchants and businesses to get the word out about their valuable products and services. 

The Connection Magazine’s editorial policy brings together community resources, events, opportunities, and people through continuous feedback and improvement.  The staff responds to issues of social significance and proactively obtains and publishes information to improve the health, prosperity, and quality of life for all citizens.

Connection Magazine demonstrates its commitment to the greater community through sponsorship of cultural events, theater, music festivals, health fairs, and museum events.  This sense of community is extended to the employees of the Connection, who enjoy the freedom to take initiative at work, and flexible work schedules.  The employees feel respected and valued, both for their work and as individuals. 

Environmental Stewardship

Connection Magazine has a rigorous recycling program, that includes using recycled paper (for copies, notes and orders), recycled paper towels, recycled file folders, recycled facial tissue, and recycled toilet paper, recycling plastic juice containers from drinks, any plastic, glass, cardboard and paper. The company has a water conservation policy and uses only environmentally friendly cleaning products.  The Connection Magazine’s environmental policy extends beyond its offices:  The publication is printed on recycled paper and uses soybean inks, and is mostly distributed by bicycle (Pedaler’s Express).  The themes of each magazine, often has an environmental focus, such as: “The Oceans”, “Forests,” “Sustainability”, and others.

There are also ongoing columns with an environmental focus such as Building Green, The Healthy Planets and Sustainable Community Calendars.

The SQA wishes to acknowledge the founder’s vision and staff’s commitment to “community leadership” for these past six years of outstanding, socially responsible alternative media.

Nirvana Candles

Pioneer Award

Contact:            Grace Gamboa & Christopher Balthasar

Address:           PO Box 1826, Freedom, CA 95019

Phone:              831-724-3943

E-mail:              balto@nirvanacandles.com          Website:  www.nirvanacandles.com

Product:            Manufactures beautiful, decorative candles from food grade paraffin wax  

 

Nirvana Candles is a young business that manufactures beautiful decorative candles from food grade paraffin wax.  Their mission statement reveals a story beyond wicks and wax:

To fill the world with beauty and positive imagery, to promote important philanthropic organizations and enlightened business practices, to create a fun and loving work environment where people are fully supported in their personal growth and teamwork, and to deepen our connection with nature and spirit.

Started by a Corralitos couple in their kitchen in mid-1998, Nirvana Candles has quickly developed a successful business based on this purpose and sustainable quality practices.

Economic Viability

In their first 18 months, Nirvana annual sales has risen from zero to more than $300,000, now with about a dozen employees, producing more than 5,000 candles per month.  Already they have incorporated numerous factory and business process improvements, helping their business quickly shift from surviving to thriving. 

Their expanding customer base includes chains like Nordstrom’s (being tested), Whole Foods markets, Pier One imports, and the Discovery Channel stores, as well as two national mail order catalogs.

Social Equity

Nirvana Candles internal structure reflects a clear focus on community sustainability and social equity.  Nirvana recognizes exemplary employee contributions through gain-sharing and cash bonus incentives.

They work in conjunction with the Watsonville Job Training program that provides training, counseling and placement for people with work experience. One of their employees had never had a steady job before, and has become head of production line, receiving a bonus for her growth and fine work. 

Nirvana strives to create a “flattened” (non-hierarchical) team environment where employee input is considered a vital link to process improvement and business success.  For example, much of the equipment purchased and the manufacturing methods are a result of co-workers' suggestions.

The company has bilingual staff, broadening their applicant pool to a larger portion of the community.  Employees are encouraged to be self-motivated and enjoy job variety through cross-training and rotating assignments.

Environmental Stewardship

Nirvana buys biodegradable cornstarch-based packing “peanuts,” as opposed to Styrofoam, and reuses boxes and packing materials when available from other local companies.

Unlike most other candle manufacturers, Nirvana reuses all of their waste wax, melting it into attractive “second market” candles. The company is pioneering a Burn ‘n’ Return™ program to recover partially burned candles, providing an incentive for consumers to “close the loop.”  They also recycle office and break-room waste, and have taught ecological principles and practices to many of their employees who were unfamiliar with the purpose of such practices.

Nirvana’s business plan calls for generously giving a percentage of their profits to educational and environmental charities.

The SQA “Pioneer Award” recognizes Nirvana Candles’ excellent start in building a company based on principles of Sustainable Quality.

Eco Goods

Innovative Retailer

Contact:            Elaine & Roger Berke (founders), Katherine Duvernois (at site visit)

Address:           1130 Pacific Avenue, Santa Cruz, Ca.  95060

Phone:              831-429-5758, 831-429-5756 fax

Website:           www.ecogoods.com

Product:            Retailer of environmentally friendly products

 

Eco Goods has been in business since 1992 and has 2 full time employees and 3 part time employees, offering organic, recycled, and non-toxic products at affordable prices.  Their Santa Cruz store features Earth-friendly products such as organic and hemp clothes, bedding, mattresses, towels, body care products, shoes, nontoxic paints and cleaning supplies, gifts, jewelry, books, paper products, pet and garden supplies and more.   In short, alternative products for “people, pets, and the planet.”

Eco Goods is in a growth stage, building consumer awareness of their location and business philosophy.  Their motto is to help consumers realize that “we vote with our dollars every time we make a purchase."

Social Responsibility

One of the challenges and contributions of this business is that the average consumer is largely unfamiliar with “environmentally friendly” products, so the staff plays an important role in answering questions and explaining the advantages of the distinctive product line.

Eco Goods collaborates with four local vendors, discussing the environmental impact of raw materials, the social impact of specific labor practices and manufacturing processes.  This serves to educate and inform Eco Goods staff and the vendors as well, bridging the communication gap between producers and consumers in an expanding dialogue about responsibility and sustainability.

Eco Goods, like most of the companies whose products they carry, gives money or merchandise to organizations working toward environmental and social justice.

Environmental Stewardship

The store is truly environmentally friendly with natural and full spectrum lighting.  Their construction is designed with recycled wood in all of their fixtures; also, a non-formaldehyde particle board (Medite) is used.  One of the founders, Roger Berke, remodeled the interior of the store and was instrumental in building nine EcoHomes in nearby Live Oak. 

Economic Viability

Eco Goods continues to be instrumental in developing the market for environmentally friendly products through consumer education, purchases that strengthen emerging markets (such as for organically grown cotton) and for new, little-known alternative products. Their focus is on items that are sustainably grown, harvested, assembled, distributed and disposed.

EcoGoods management often receives emails and letters from people who, after visiting the store and returning to their own country or town, realize that they have no access to these types of exemplary products.  Coop America’s Green Pages lists Eco Goods, and in 1996 they were praised as "the general store that every town should have."

To the owners, Eco Goods is a “labor of love,” a long-term process of allowing consumers to become educated while simultaneously developing the market for products they believe in.

Eco Goods has donated to many local causes, such as Ecology Action, Bike to Work, Gray Bears and the Second Harvest Food Bank. EcoGoods contributes a certain amount of money every month to product donations (gift certificates) to sponsor events in the community and has guidelines for how they distribute the money.

 

Santa Cruz Live Oak Grange #503

Revitalization Award

Contact:          Daniel Feldman

Address:          1900 17th Ave., Santa Cruz, CA 95062

Phone:             (831) 423-6235

Email:              dfeldman@cruzio.com

Website:          www.greengrange.org

Service:           Support for family farms and sustainable agriculture education

 

The Santa Cruz Live Oak Grange acts as an environmentally sustainable agricultural and education center, and has recently undergone a revolution of its leadership that has significantly revitalized its success in fulfilling its mission. 

Economic Viability

Membership of the Grange has increased from 34 to 130 in one year.  In a short time, the Grange has also converted an unused piece of land into a thriving and economically viable organization that now uses organic farming practices.  The property and building that house the Grange is paid for, which allows the leadership to focus attention on community initiatives instead of fundraising. 

The group stays financially sound by accepting many unique donations from individuals and organizations (for example, New Leaf Markets has given 5% of a day’s proceeds to the Grange), limiting gas use, changing to long lasting lights in their music hall, and recycling.

Social Equity

Some of the founding principles of the Grange include: accessibility to all, integration of native plants, sustainability education through workshops, hands-on training, and connections with other groups with similar goals.  Workshops are often provided at little or no cost to the public.

The Grange plays a leadership role with the national/international Grange organization to include the interests of small farmers and sustainable organizations of this type. 

A pilot program was developed demonstrating a commitment to continuous improvement and social responsiveness, whereby wheelchair bound kids and adults will be able to plant and harvest plants/vegetables/seeds in raised beds high enough for easy access.  Many volunteers come to the Grange to grow seeds, food and flowers that are then redistributed to the members, friends, and neighbors. 

Environmental Stewardship

SCLO Grange is the only subordinate Grange in the nation dedicated to organic farming and sustainable agriculture.  Their philosophical ideals about sustainability are manifest in many different aspects of the Grange, including the manner in which they collect greywater from neighbors’ rainwater runoff, which would otherwise run to the ocean.  Captured in a trench along one side of the property, this rainwater helps sustain corn and many other plants.

 

The Video Project

Overall Excellence Award

 

Contact:          Ian and Terry Thiermann

Address:          200 Estates Drive, Ben Lomond, CA 95005

Phone:             831-336-0160; Fax:  831-336-2168

E-mail:             videoproject@videoproject.org

Website:          www.videoproject.org

Product or Service:  Educational Media For a Safe and Sustainable World

 

   

The Video Project was founded in 1983 by Oscar-winning documentary filmmaker Vivienne Verdon-Roe (Women: For America, For the World) and Oscar nominee Ian Thiermann (In the Nuclear Shadow). In 1999, The Video Project celebrates 16 years as the nation's non-profit source of educational programs for a safe and sustainable world. Over 600 programs celebrate the natural world, examine threats to our environment, and offer positive solutions.

Economic Viability

The Video Project carries programs for all ages, including Oscar and Emmy award-winners
from over 270 independent filmmakers worldwide.  They distribute over ten thousand programs every year to a diverse and growing network that includes thousands of schools, colleges, community groups, public libraries, churches, businesses, government agencies and individuals.

Some of the newest videos (such as Against the Grain and Food for Thought) delve into the complex issues in biotechnology and food.

Social Equity

“Building Sustainability,” about Sweden's The Natural Step, offers solutions for business to move towards sustainable practices.

Of special note is the Video Project's Teaching the Next Generation campaign.  They have made a special effort to reach young people. With foundation and donor support, over 6,000 videos have been donated to over 2,000 schools, primarily in disadvantaged and culturally diverse communities.

At the end of 1999, The Video Project was focused on how to lessen any negative impacts of the Y2K issue (the so-called “Millennium Bug”), as they spent much time in discussions with community and national leaders on how to help.

Environmental Stewardship

Demonstrating a commitment to environmental stewardship and resource conservation, the Video Project installed an impressive array of solar panels at their offices – you can actually see their PG&E power meter running backwards! 

An organic vegetable garden and "worm garden" allows them to recycle almost all of the food scraps. Water collection barrels located around the outside of their offices capture and re-distribute water run-off, pumped to irrigate the garden.

Videos are shipped in recycle and re-used boxes.  Office paper is printed on both sides before it is shredded and used yet again as packing material. 

Co-founder, Ian Thiermann, is also very interested in saving energy and money for other organizations.  A few years back Mr. Thiermann showed the Santa Cruz School district how they could get better lighting and save $150,000 per year, which led them to replace their lights and start saving money.

Through their videos and materials they review, produce and ship The Video Project is making a difference globally.

Merit Academy

Innovation Award

 

Contact:          Nicole D'Arcy

Title:                Hydrogen Fuel Cell Project Manager

Address:          2392 No. Rodeo Gulch Road, Soquel, CA 95073

Phone:             831-462-5655; Fax:     831-462-0506

Website:          meritworld.com                       E-mail:   nd@meritworld.com

Service:           Education