BALLE Economic Justice Initiative Task Forces

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Business Education Task Force

Develop business education programs for BALLE networks serving historically disadvantaged communities.

  • Support the development of a Social Venture Institute-BALLE model (in partnership with Social Venture Network)

  • Support the rollout of SVI’s to additional BALLE networks

  • Explore other business educational programs and connect BALLE networks to resources to help develop them

Task force facilitator: Leanne Krueger-Braneky, SBN Philadelphia; staff: Mary Rick

New Network Development Task Force

Identify and support community leaders in creating and running new BALLE networks in historically disadvantaged communities, with an initial focus on Newark, NJ.

  • Identify new communities

  • Identify potential business and community leaders

  • Identify potential funding resources

  • Review BALLE application process and materials

  • Work with BALLE staff and local leaders to launch new network

Task force facilitator: Michelle Knapik, BALLE trustee; staff: Ann Bartz

Enterprise Development Task Force

Help start and strengthen businesses needed to build local self-reliance in historically disadvantaged communities where BALLE networks are located.

  • Help identify new business opportunities that fill gaps in local economies

  • Provide business plans/models and free business consulting

  • Develop a list of progressive business services

  • Research different ownership models

  • Connect entrepreneurs with partner organizations working in capital formation, sustainable community economic development, and other business services

We need task force members with general business experience and those with specific experience in:

  • Food businesses: processing (including canned, jarred, and frozen products), distribution, fair trade importing, grocery stores, restaurants, urban farms

  • Green building businesses: construction, design, home insulation, white and green roofing, solar installation, building material manufacturing

  • Energy and alternative transportation: car share, bicycles, electric cars, bio-diesel production, bio-diesel filling stations, wind energy, etc.

  • Clothing design, manufacturing, and retail, fiber production and processing

  • Health related: yoga studios, spas, medicinal herbs, massage, natural healing

  • Green office supplies, paper recycling

  • Green cleaning services and supplies, soap making

  • Art galleries, local and fair trade gift shops and other retail businesses

  • Capital formation/local banks

  • Other sustainable businesses as needed by each community

Task force facilitator: Judy Wicks, BALLE board; staff: Todd Mills

Network Diversification Task Force

Encourage and support existing BALLE networks to reach out to leaders from disadvantaged communities for steering committee positions and other leadership roles. Connect network leaders to resources that support the diversification of their network (including training materials, community mapping tools, access to regional or national leaders, etc). 

Task force facilitator: Derek Hoshiko, BALLE Seattle; staff: Ann Bartz

Conference Diversification Task Force

Advise the conference committee.

  • Suggest speakers for plenary and breakout slots

  • Develop scholarship fund with recruitment plan

  • Design strategies for general outreach to people of color

Task force facilitator/staff: Todd Mills, BALLE staff