About Us
The mission of BALLE Seattle is to connect, educate and promote King County businesses supporting local living economies.
BALLE Seattle is a local chapter of the national Business Alliance for Local Living Economies
See also:
- Projects
- Become a Member
- Download our brochure (200k PDF).
What is a local living economy?
A local living economy provides secure and fulfilling livelihoods for all people, works in harmony with natural systems, supports biological and cultural diversity, and fosters a community life. BALLE’s mission is to support, connect, and strengthen local, independent businesses dedicated to building living economies, which increase prosperity, fortify community, and ensure environmental health.
Guiding Principles
BALLE is based on several key guiding principles:
- Business - Businesses are anchors for creating thriving economic systems.
- Alliance - Partnerships between independent businesses yield new opportunities and expand capabilities. BALLE offers the benefits of independent business networks both locally and nationally.
- Local - The welfare of a community relies on the health of the local economy. Buying and partnering locally keeps your money within your community, reduces demand on environmental resources, and preserves community character.
- Living - BALLE honors that the vitality of local economies is derived from living people, communities, ecosystems.
- Economies - Economies are the foundation for sustainable communities, environments and social fabric.
Leadership Team
Our leadership team has the following members:
| Wanda Benvenutti | Wanda Benvenutti
>Seattle-based photojournalist | |
| Bruce T. Herbert | Newground Social Investment
> Socially responsible money management for people and institutions who are principled, proactive, and inspired to make a difference with their investments. | |
| Derek Hoshiko | Web Collective
> Web development | |
| Eric Magnuson | Web Collective
> Web development | |
| Quang Nguyen | Washington Vietnamese American Chamber of Commerce | |
| Eva Otto | GreenWorks Realty
>GreenWorks Realty | |
| Mark Pomerantz | Social Profits
>Social Profits | |
| Jon Ramer | The Interra Project
>The Interra project with the Puget Sound Community Change program | |
| Alex Tokar | Web Collective
>Web development | |
| Sage Van Wing |