In 1999 SSC sponsored the successful Better Not Bigger conference, stepping in to its role in the community as a convener of dialog about sustainability. From then on SSC began to sponsor regular public events and issue a newsletter. Sustainable North Bay became SSC's nonprofit fiscal sponsor.

During 2000, SSC focused on two areas, re-visioning and restructuring the
organization, and on the MASH Project, a powerful introductory workshop about sustainability. The on-line discussion group created an important link for the sustainability community. We introduced the county to Open Space Technology and have continued to explore effective techniques for dialog and organizing.

During 2001, the MASH Project flourished, and four new projects
were initiated. The Ecological Footprint Project created a widespread understanding of the Footprint concept and helped to develop a community-wide vocabulary for discussing sustainability. Choksampa explored ways of bridging the polarization often found in the dialog about community issues. The Climate Protection Campaign sought to develop a commitment at the county and city levels to systematically reduce environmental impacts. SustaiNet is our web-based support for connecting and networking people, groups and issues through out the county. In the same year SSC also received independent nonprofit status and began exploring alternative organizational forms reflecting the values of sustainability.

Early in 2002 the Wisdom Council was created as an advisory board and the
web site was launched. On May 10th the Ecological Footprint Project culminated in a public event and the release of the Ecological Footprint Report. The Climate Protection campaign reached its initial goal of a commitment from all the cities in the county to reduce greenhouse emissions making Sonoma County the first county in the nation to achieve this. This last project marked our transition from projects primarily fostering dialog and education to projects that encourage implementation. Along these lines SSC later launched two more implementation programs: The Sustainability Management Systems (SMS) Coaching Program, a systematic approach enabling organizations across multiple sectors to manage their environmental and social impacts, and The Sustainable Urban Model, an urban mixed-use development using the latest in sustainable design.

In addition to working with some keys sustainability individuals in the region such as Mathis Wackernagel, the late Bill Moyer, Paul Ray, Ed Quevedo, etc., SSC is constantly in contact with a wide variety of groups and people in the region. With so many sustainability-related events happening in the county these days, SSC has begun shifting away from convening general sustainability events like our Seasonal Celebrations and the regional MARTY gatherings. Today we find ourselves increasingly involved in exploring with others what it means to actually become more sustainable and helping to weave together all the wonderful sustainable efforts in the county. We are proud of the evolution of SSC, and grateful to everyone who has been a part of it and with whom we work. Sonoma County is on its way of becoming…Sustainable Sonoma County.

In 2004 SSC merged with the Leadership Institute for Ecology and the
Economy, a nonprofit corporation.