ment in the shaping of democracy, laws and our collective future. By ditching pundits and talking with neighbors, city by city and town by town, citi- zens throughout the United States are moving to do this using newly learned techniques such as those offered by Open Space Technology, World Café, Transition Towns, Sustainable Cities, The Cloud Institute for Sustainability Education, and the Institute of Noetic Sciences’ Worldview Literacy Project. In St. Petersburg, Florida, Oklaho- ma City, Oklahoma, and other places, citizens are cultivating a stronger sense of community with real discussions about local issues and economic goals. They aim to arrive at a clear-eyed view
of what citizens really want from the economy.
In St. Petersburg, the culmination of Sharon Joy Kleitsch’s 10-year effort to build a flourishing community through helpful workshops on timely subjects, meaningful conversations and align- ing constructive partnerships is reach- ing a crescendo this month at Beyond Sustainability: Ecosystems, Economics, and Education, the Institute of Florida Studies’ 36th annual conference, at Hillsborough Community College (
Tinyurl.com/3avntte). Kleitsch remarks, “I show up, pay attention and listen for opportunities where my connections with policy makers, educators, nonprof- its and community activists can help
Making a Difference with Dollars Local Firm Supports Ethical, Green Investing
by Linda Sechrist A
ttentive listening is as important for today’s financial advisors, attuned to possible rumblings in the economic marketplace, as it was for the indig- enous Indian tribes that laid their ears to the ground to detect the pounding hooves of approaching enemy horse- men, long before the riders could be visibly discerned. Curiosity about what was making the subtle sounds of a com- ing revolution in the world of finance led Andrew Hill and Jennifer Figurelli to co-found Andrew Hill Investment Advisors, Inc. (AHIA). Today, along with traditional investments, the two Naples residents specialize in socially responsible investing (SRI) practices that “first, do no harm” to humanity or the environment.
The SRI movement began nearly three decades ago among individuals that preferred to invest in alignment with their values and know that their money was working towards a future based on sustainability and the needs of multiple stakeholders, including shareholders, employees, their families and communi- ties. SRI, also referred to as double- or triple-bottom-line investing, or ethical or green investing, is a process that considers the social and environmental
convene people in meaningful conver- sations that can make a difference in building a resilient community.” In Oklahoma City, Sustainable OKC, a volunteer organization working towards community sustainability at the crossroads of business, environment and social justice, frequently partners with the city’s Office of Sustainability, the CommonWealth Urban Farms proj- ect and the Oklahoma Food Cooperative (
Sustainableokc.org). The grassroots organization advocates shopping locally and sustainably.
Jennifer Alig, Sustainable OKC president, is consistently delighted by the growing number of residents that don’t just attend events such as movie —Continued on page 40.
consequences of investments, both posi- tive and negative, within the context of rigorous financial analysis.
One of the few registered invest- ment advisors in Southwest Florida that offers expertise in SRI, Hill says that in addition to traditional security analysis, his firm’s SRI strategies have proven effective. “Along with looking at the risk and return criteria, we also ask questions such as: Are the products and services of value to society? Is the company a good corporate citizen, supporting the surrounding community within which it is located? And, is there a diversity and parity within the workforce?” he advises. According to the Social Invest- ment Forum Foundation’s 2010 report, Socially Responsible Investing Trends in the United States, nearly one out of
every eight dollars under professional management is involved in SRI. “In- vestor demand is growing for portfo- lio opportunities in clean and green technology, alternative and renewable energy, green building and responsible property development, as well as other environmentally driven businesses,” says Hill. He notes that, in alignment with this month’s Natural Awakenings feature, “Economics of Happiness: The New Economy—Changing the Rules to Benefit America’s People,” the fastest growing area of SRI is community in- vesting, which directs capital from inves- tors and lenders to communities that are underserved by traditional financial service institutions.
“We attribute the growing interest in SRI to increasing concerns about lim- ited natural resources, greater awareness of environmental conditions, corporate governance issues and other factors,” advises Hill, who emphasizes that com- panies which can effectively manage these conditions often have a competi- tive edge. “Jennifer and I both agree that increasing investor demand for SRI en- courages the kind of society that makes for health, happiness, true prosperity, sustainability and flourishing communi- ties in the U.S. and worldwide.”
Location: 4081 Tamiami Trail N., Na- ples. For more info, call 239-777-3188 or 239-777-3129. Also visit Responsible
Advisors.com. See ad, page 29.
natural awakenings November 2011 39
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72