SSC: About Us

Formed in 1997, Sustainable Sonoma County (SSC) is a community based
program committed to sponsoring and supporting sustainability locally,
regionally and globally. In 2004 SSC merged with the Leadership Institute
for Ecology and the Economy, a nonprofit corporation.

Some wonder why a community group would undertake work of this scope. "Local action moves the world." or, as Margaret Mead observed, "Never doubt the power of a small group to make a difference. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." Sonoma County provides an ideal incubator for developing sustainable change models because it is a region of both burgeoning innovation and high consumption. Here the challenge and opportunity for creating a sustainable way of living are enormous.

Sustainable Sonoma County is a learning and action community that connects, inspires, and empowers people to align their thinking and action with their deep need for a life-affirming and sustainable world. SSC's projects, events, workshops, research and publications engage people in the creation of an ecological, equitable, and prosperous society.

Challenge

Act for the sake of the whole and the parts, the future and the present.
Integrate and restore our ecological, economic, and social fabric.
Reframe "us against them" into win-win solutions.

Opportunity

Increase sustainability awareness so that it impacts community decisions.
Strengthen alliances among individuals and groups working for a better world.
Expand Sonoma County's connections to the vanguard of communities developing paths toward a sustainable future.

People often ask: "Why isn't Sustainable Sonoma County working on transportation?" Gravel mining in the Russian River? Affordable housing? Diversity? Overpopulation? Global warming?"

We are! Sustainability offers a comprehensive framework for understanding our world. Problems viewed through a sustainable lens reveal the interconnections between issues.

SSC focuses on connecting the dots between issues, creating better processes for decision making and developing high leverage projects aimed at systems change. See our current projects list.

Financial Support

SSC receives its support from hundreds of generous individual supporters, foundations and fees for service. We are grateful to past and current support from the Community Foundation of Sonoma County, the Ernie Carpenter Fund for the Environment, US-EPA, and from the Columbia Foundation.

To learn more about how you can become a member of the Sustainer Society, contribute monthly or make a one-time donation, visit Support SSC.