Amplifiers — Issue 06, full text | Sparx Publishing Group

A spark of inspiration can change the world FEATURING INTERVIEWS WITH: David Suzuki Foundation • Sage Initiative • Squirrel News • Asparagus Magazine • Intersectional Environmentalist • Brown Girl Green • Sustainability Advantage • Love Food Hate Waste Canada • RIPPLE of CHANGE • Not My Problem • Sparx Publishing Group Intersectional Environmentalist Team December 2023, Issue 06

POWERING IMPACT: THESE AMPLIFIERS ARE TURNING UP THE DIAL ON POSITIVE CHANGE M A G A Z I N E CAN $16 / US $16

Together, let’s create content to make the world better. Get in touch with us here: sparxpg.com Do you want to build a better world?

Marketing can make it happen.

Sparx would like to acknowledge that we reside and work on traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the Coast Salish peoples – Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), Stó:lō and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) Nations.

CONTENTS

SAGE INITIATIVE Building a pathway for Indigenous womxn impact investors

DAVID SUZUKI FOUNDATION Collaborating and educating for a sustainable future

BROWN GIRL GREEN Creating tangible climate-related impact via a powerful online community

INTERSECTIONAL ENVIRONMENTALIST Amplifying intersectionality in the climate space

RIPPLE OF CHANGE Sharing stories of impact to inspire positive change

NOT MY PROBLEM Inviting newcomers to the climate space through positive stories

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

HOW COMPANIES CAN HARNESS THE POWER OF TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIAL MEDIA TO DO GOOD Actionable ways purpose-driven brands can amplify impact online

AMPLIFIER RESOURCES TO MAKE THE WORLD BETTER Amplify good with these purpose-driven resources

ISSUE 6 As a purpose-driven marketing agency, Sparx Publishing Group is on a mission to amplify good. Visit our website to learn about our team and how we spread positive impact then get in touch to collaborate:

sparxpg.com/make-the-world-better

SQUIRREL NEWS Nourishing readers with solutions-oriented stories

ASPARAGUS MAGAZINE Inspiring audiences with sustainable storytelling

SUSTAINABILITY ADVANTAGE Amplifying sustainability efforts with effective resources

LOVE FOOD HATE WASTE CANADA Leading a prevention-first approach to food waste

SPARX PUBLISHING GROUP Amplifying voices that catalyze positive change

ON THE WEB CONTRIBUTORS We are recognized by the Canadian Aboriginal and Minority Supplier Council as a certified minority-owned and -led organization This issue helps advance progress on the following United Nations Sustainable Development Goals:

A Summer of Purpose: The Sparx team travelled far and wide this past June to learn from expert speakers, meet mission-aligned professionals, and collaborate on a major impact-led event. Check out our June Purpose- Driven Events Recap blog at sparxpg.

com/blog to learn more.

The MTWB Panel at SRI23: Sparx moderated our first-ever Make The World Better panel at the Canadian Securities Exchange’s (CSE) Summit on Responsible Investment. Speakers from MTWB Magazine–featured organizations, including Sage Lacerte, Founder & CEO of Sage Initiative, joined us to discuss regenerative businesses, partnerships with Indigenous Peoples, doing good and making money, and more. Watch the replay via CSE TV’s Summit on Responsible Investment 2023 playlist on YouTube.

Impact Update 2023: Dive in to discover the impact of Make The World Better Magazine, including readership statistics and demographics, distribution and milestones, participant testimonials, and more! Visit our blog at sparxpg. com/blog to check it out.

Retail Investing for a Better World:

Sparx Founder & President Hamish Khamisa was a guest on The Exchange for Entrepreneurs Podcast, where he spoke with the CSE’s James Black about Make The World Better Magazine, the impacts of ESG and SRI in the world of self-directed investing, and more. Catch the podcast episode, “Hamish Khamisa on Retail Investors & Making the World ‘Better’” via CSE TV’s The Exchange for Entrepreneurs playlist on YouTube.

ISSN 2817-4208 (Print) December 2023, Issue 6

PUBLISHER Sparx Publishing Group Inc. sparxpg.com For advertising rates and placements, please contact us at mtwb@sparxpg.com All photo credits to the organizations.

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Hamish Khamisa

EDITORS Libby Shabada Michelle Baleka

ART DIRECTOR Elisabeth Choi

PROJECT MANAGER Alexandra Nikitina

PROJECT COORDINATORS Ken Yeung Pauline Macapagal

ASPARAGUS MAGAZINE Jessie Johnston, Founder, Publisher, & Editrix-in-Chief

BROWN GIRL GREEN Kristy Drutman, Founder

DAVID SUZUKI FOUNDATION Craig David Long, Content Manager

INTERSECTIONAL ENVIRONMENTALIST Sabs Katz, Co-Founder & Partnerships Lead

LOVE FOOD HATE WASTE CANADA Joanne Gauci, Campaign Manager

NOT MY PROBLEM Naman Bajaj, Content Writer & Founder

RIPPLE OF CHANGE Whitney Larson, Creative Director

SAGE INITIATIVE Sage Lacerte, Founder & CEO

SQUIRREL NEWS Jonathan Widder, Founder

SUSTAINABILITY ADVANTAGE Bob Willard, Founder

At what point do you speak up on issues that matter to you?

While every one of us could answer that question differently, each of the more than 50 individuals and organizations that we've featured since launching Make The World Better Magazine had a spark that drove them to speak up and take meaningful action toward making a positive change.

As we cross the two-year anniversary of Make The World Better Magazine, we’re on the cusp of an era of seemingly limitless content creation and consumption, driven in large part by advances in generative artificial intelligence (AI).

Changemakers are therefore not only being challenged on when to speak up but also how to do so in a way that cuts through the noise. Sometimes that noise is a byproduct of the sheer volume of information we are bombarded with every day. Other times it is more sinister, the result of algorithms built to distort the information that gets served in order to sow seeds of doubt or confusion on important issues like climate change or human rights.

Against that ominous backdrop, the stories of the individual and collective efforts profiled in this issue of Make The World Better Magazine serve as a beacon of hope and offer a cross-sectional view on how changemakers are approaching and generating awareness of important issues.

So, how can individuals make meaningful change a reality?

In an algorithmically-driven world, choices can speak louder than voices. By being inten tional about consuming and engaging with stories of positive impact, you can reshape how and what an algorithm designed to keep your attention will serve up — not just to you but to others like you as well.

Whether it's discovering brands and initiatives that are working to make more sustainable initiatives happen, learning how to reduce food waste and therefore minimize climate impact, working to create a more inclusive world, or simply finding stories that focus on positive news, by supporting, sharing, and amplifying stories and content, the likes of which are being produced by the organizations featured in this issue, your online habits can tip the scale toward a better world.

When Sparx set down the road of wanting to create content to make the world better, we believed that there were others out there who not only wished for a better world but were actively out there working to make it happen. This issue, and the ones that have led up to it, are proof that we are not alone in our efforts and hope to create a better world than the one we inherited. And neither are you.

Hamish Khamisa Founder, Sparx Publishing Group Letter from the Editor This issue, and the ones that have led up to it, are proof that we are not alone in our efforts and hope to create a better world than the one we inherited.

Visit our blog for purpose-driven marketing tips that will help amplify your impact. Plus, discover more changemakers who are making the world better, enjoy takeaways from mission-aligned events, and learn about Sparx’s team and initiatives. Read now: sparxpg.com/blog

PARTICIPATE IN COMMUNITY-LED MOVEMENTS ONLINE When it comes to activism, you don’t have to reinvent the wheel. Unless your cause is smaller and unknown, there’s a good chance community members have already begun a movement, and trying to do “your own thing” can not only be perceived as self-serving but can actually hurt the reach of existing movements.

Instead, get involved in community-led movements that matter to your organization, and spread the word by posting on your social media channels and using the existing hashtags. Some ongoing movements include Black Lives Matter, Stop AAPI Hate, and #MeToo.

Just remember: as with any cause marketing, ensure you do it in a meaningful, actionable, and non-performative way. Show genuine support for causes that matter to your organization, encourage your audience to participate, and contribute to the conversation where appropriate.

A company that often gets involved in movements on their social platforms is ice cream retailer Ben & Jerry’s. They have created multiple Instagram posts to support the Black Lives Matter movement and continue to show their support for new movements on a frequent basis.

USE GRASSROOTS MARKETING AND TECHNOLOGY TO AMPLIFY SPECIFIC CAUSES Through social media, community movements can grow into global movements.

Grassroots marketing, or creating inspirational and highly shareable content targeted to a very specific niche or locale, is a great way to raise awareness of specialized causes that matter to your organization.

Remember the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge?1 This is a classic example of successful grassroots marketing.

Social media is a fantastic medium for grassroots marketing due to the fact that it's easy to share content. To be successful with How Companies Can Harness the Power of Technology and Social Media to Do Good Actionable ways purpose-driven brands can amplify impact online By Sparx Publishing Group I n life, there are the dreamers and the doers. If you’re reading this, there’s a good chance your company aims to be the latter. But perhaps you’re wondering: how can we really make a diﬀ erence? In our ever-evolving world of climate crises, social justice issues, and animal welfare concerns, it can be challenging to know where to start or how to make actionable change.

Luckily, doing good can be achievable with the click of a button — literally. Social media and technology are two powerful ways to enable your company to authentically live its values and make a diﬀ erence.

a grassroots social media campaign, you'll want to keep the target audience tight, either psychographically or geographically; tell a story that resonates and inspires; and, most importantly, encourage people to share your content.

Alternatively, if your organization is built on particular values, social media posts can be a way to educate your audience about very specific issues.

Canadian clothing retailer tentree uses social media to bring to light a variety of environmental issues that matter to them. For example, they use Instagram to highlight the environmental impacts of the dyeing process, the importance of protecting coral reefs, and the benefits of the circular economy.

Innovative use of technology is another way to help amplify and raise awareness of important causes. For example, National Geographic used Meta Spark to show Instagram users what the world will feel like in 2070, while a VR experience called Greenland Melting shows the unfortunate effect of warm ocean waters on glaciers in Greenland.

TAKE A STAND ON CAUSES THAT MATTER TO YOU According to Sprout Social’s #BrandsGetReal: Brands Creating Change in the Conscious Consumer Era Report,2 based on their 2019 survey, 70% of consumers believe it’s important for brands to take a public stand on social and political issues and 66% believe brands should do so because they can create real change. And social media is a great place to publicly show your stance and advocate for real change, especially if it’s something that is relevant to your organization.

For example, Nike is a brand for athletes, many of whom are Black people who experience discrimination and police brutality, particularly in the United States where Nike is headquartered. Knowing they’d receive backlash for supporting Colin Kaepernick, who took a knee in protest at a football game in 2016, they made him the face of a global campaign in 2018.

AMPLIFY ADVOCATES AND ACTIVISTS WITHIN YOUR COMMUNITY When it comes to doing good, letting others take the lead is, sometimes, the best path to take. There are many notable organizations and activists who are on the front lines of causes and supporting them helps amplify their important work.

Follow relevant organizations and activists on social media, reshare their content, and reach out to partner with them for initiatives, such as an Instagram takeover, contest, or content swap.

Similar to participating in community-led movements, you'll want to ensure you're doing this in a meaningful and non-performative way.

Patagonia, a B Corp–certified outdoor clothing retailer, often shares content from like-minded creators and activists in the outdoor space. For example, they featured a non-binary climber who advocates for a more supportive climbing community, and their Run To film series, promoted on Instagram, features runners who are advocating for issues, such as saving a watershed and honouring Indigenous scientists, past and present.

MAKE GOALS FOR SUSTAINABLE CHANGE It’s one thing to have big ideas to do good, but it’s another thing to execute them.

Social media is a great opportunity to hold yourself accountable to your goals.

You'll want to post about your goal and update your audience when you reach certain benchmarks. For example, Glossier, a US-based beauty company, opted not to use a vague post about “doing better.” Instead, they pledged to donate to various BLM organizations and commit to ongoing change within their company, as shown in an Instagram post.3 But how do you know if you’re getting close to your goal? There are various apps that can help you track your progress, like Strides, Way of Life, and ATracker.

CONCLUSION By engaging with social media in these ways, companies gain the power to amplify their own purpose-driven initiatives, support and boost the visibility of ongoing mission-aligned eﬀ orts and changemakers, share impact stories to an ever-growing audience, and drive positive change.

1. Read “Ice Bucket Challenge dramatically accelerated the fight against ALS,” published on June 4, 2019, on ALS Association’s website, als.org.

2. Sprout Social. (2018). #BrandsGetReal: Brands Creating Change in the Conscious Consumer Era.

3. Read Glossier’s pledge on its Instagram profile at instagram.com/glossier.

70% of consumers believe it’s important for brands to take a public stand on social and political issues and 66% believe brands should do so because they can create real change.

Learn more at spring.is We are a global community of innovators and investors, connected to create a more sustainable, healthy and equitable world.

Where founders and investors come together for impact.

Co-CEO, Caroline von Hirschberg Canada’s impact community connects at Spring.

Our Impact Investor Challenges empower accredited and aspiring impact investors to connect their capital to startups that create positive change.

Whether you’re interested in cleantech, social equity or health solutions, we have a program for you.

Learn. Connect. Change the World.

UP YOUR GAME HERE ShareWares.ca Your Food Service Zero Waste

FEATURE Showing What Good Influence Can Do These amplifiers are proving that we all have the power to change the world.

Welcome to the sixth issue of Make The World Better Magazine!

In this edition, engage with the stories of influential changemakers who are amplifying important causes, igniting impact, and spreading positive change.

Read on to learn about ten incredible influencers, initiatives, platforms, applications, and organizations that are empowering everyone to build sustainable communities, accelerating the rematriation of the Indigenous economy by supporting Indigenous womxn impact investors, boosting morale by sharing solution-oriented stories, inspiring change with sustainable storytelling, amplifying the intersectional environmentalism movement, creating climate-related impact through community and conversation, providing sustainability champions with the tools they need to make a lasting impact, educating Canadians to end food waste, sharing stories of impact to uplift changemakers, and using positive stories to invite newcomers to the climate space. Plus, learn about Sparx Publishing Group and the work we're doing to amplify positive impact through marketing.

David Suzuki Foundation Collaborating and educating for a sustainable future Successful climate activism has the power to drive positive change at all levels, from personal to governmental. In order to achieve this, though, we need educational tools to utilize, movements to engage with, and climate solutions to implement.

We spoke with Craig David Long, Content Manager, about how the David Suzuki Foundation is educating and empowering Canadians to build healthier environments and sustainable communities with its over 30 years of experience.

What was the “spark” that inspired your founders to start creating educational content at the David Suzuki Foundation?

The David Suzuki Foundation got its start in 1990 after a CBC Radio series David Suzuki hosted called “It's a Matter of Survival.” So many listeners were alarmed by the discussion of environmental problems, including climate change, that about 17,000 people sent in letters asking what they could do. The Foundation’s goal was to provide education and, above all, solutions.

Photo credit: Vincent Tom David Suzuki participated in workshops and breakout sessions at the “Building Power: a Future Ground Network convergence” Vancouver event to help participants dive deeper into how to build and coordinate power collectively and strategically against forces driving the climate crisis.

Photo credit: Riverside Knowledge Path To complement its activism and on-the-ground public engagement work, the Foundation has worked with the David Suzuki Institute and Greystone Books to publish more than 60 books, many of which have won national and international awards. The Foundation has also published the weekly syn-dicated Science Matters column under David Suzuki’s name for the past 25 years.

What do you consider to be the Foundation’s biggest success? Can you share any stories of the impact your work has had that have surprised you?

Over its 34-year history, the Foundation has had many successes. The “Declaration of Interdependence,” written for the 1992 United Nations Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, formed the Foundation’s guiding principles in its early years, and portions of it were woven into the Earth Charter, which continues to gain adherents today.

Additionally, working with Indigenous Peoples and communities and supporting community activism through the Future Ground Network and Réseau Demain le Québec have informed and helped amplify the Foundation and its allies’ critical environmental work.

As well, our scientific research and reports have helped reform fisheries practices, offer ways for Canada to reach zero-emissions electricity by 2035,1 and hold governments to account for habitat protection.

Last but certainly not least, the Foundation’s Blue Dot Tour and movement provided a major push for Canada’s decision to enshrine the right to a healthy environment in law.

How do you feel having a platform and community help to make the world better?

Our many supporters and followers give us hope. We believe that the Foundation’s adherence to evidence-based information and its collaborative approach are making a difference in Canada and beyond. With the climate and biodiversity crises the world faces, it’s up to us all to do our part to educate and bring about positive change. The David Suzuki Foundation is proud to be part of this growing movement.

What are some of the challenges you typically face in creating content or building out your audience?

Like most environmental organizations, the David Suzuki Foundation must find ways to reach a larger audience and not just talk to those who are already on the same side as us.

With limited resources, we also have to focus our work and temper expectations from the Working to build healthier environments and sustainable communities in this land we call Canada requires a diversity of voices and a wide range of knowledge and ideas, especially the knowledge of Indigenous Peoples who have known these lands and waters for millennia.

Performance stage at a Healing Forest at Riverside School’s Knowledge Path in Albert Bridge, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, on unceded Mi’Kmaq territory.

The panel for the “Building Power: a Future Ground Network convergence” Vancouver event was moderated by climate organizer Naisha Khan and featured conversations between climate activists Manvi Bhalla, Anjali Appadurai, and Audrey Siegl (left to right).

The David Suzuki Foundation hosted a rally on Parliament Hill that brought together environmental, Indigenous, labour, and health organizations to deliver 40,000 signatures to Minister of Environment and Climate Change Steven Guilbeault, June 2023. The campaign calls on the federal government to lock in renewable power and remove fossil fuels from Canada’s electricity grid by 2035.

1. Green, T. & Thomas, S. (2022). Shifting Power: Zero-Emissions Electricity Across Canada by 2035. David Suzuki Foundation.

public about the amount of work we can take on and the issues we can help with.

Working with other organizations, community groups, and networks to mutually support each other’s work helps.

Are there any upcoming initiatives or projects you'd like to share?

The Foundation will continue its critical climate and clean energy work, campaign-ing for renewable power for all, following up on our research that shows how Canada can have 100% emissions-free electricity by 2035. We will also work at the municipal level to empower citizens and councils to enact sound climate and sustainability practices and regulations, and boost ambition and implementation. And we’ll continue our work in biodiversity and habitat protection, including the Butterflyway Project, pollinator program, and orca and salmon conservation.

Working to build healthier environments and sustainable communities on this land we call Canada requires a diversity of voices and a wide range of knowledge and ideas, especially the knowledge of Indigenous Peoples who have known these lands and waters for millennia.

The Foundation’s collaborative work on reports and a series of videos explaining “Land Back” and treaties shows how land governance must change to recognize and uphold Indigenous rights and re-sponsibilities and to restore nature’s once abundant ecosystems.

The Foundation is also working with the National Healing Forests Initiative to encourage reconciliation by dedicating space in forests, gardens, or green spaces as places for healing, learning, sharing, and reflecting on Canada’s history and the legacy of Indian Residential Schools.

As always, we at the Foundation know that environmental and social justice go hand in hand, and we strive to be an inclusive and powerful amplifier for the many diverse voices calling for better ways of living on this land and with each other.

As always, you can learn about the above and other good work, at davidsuzuki.org.

How can people help support your mission?

People can get involved in many ways, including volunteering, getting involved in campaigns, signing petitions and joining actions, and donating. We offer opportunities for volunteers in everything from pollinator work and the Butterflyway Project to the Suzuki Elders. It’s also important for people to talk to friends, family, coworkers, and others about the climate and biodiversity crises and their solutions. Greater awareness leads to growing potential for change.

We at the Foundation know that environmental and social justice go hand in hand, and we strive to be an inclusive and powerful amplifier for the many diverse voices calling for better ways of living on this land and with each other.

Photo credit: Ming Wu davidsuzuki.org facebook.com/DavidSuzukiFoundation twitter.com/davidsuzukifdn (@DavidSuzukiFDN) linkedin.com/company/david-suzuki-foundation instagram.com/davidsuzukifdn (@davidsuzukifdn) youtube.com/user/DavidSuzukiFDN Photo credit: Vincent Tom

(Your Organization Here) Be featured in Make The World Better Magazine On a mission to make the world better?

We’d love to amplify your impact.

Share your purpose-driven story in an upcoming edition of Make The World Better Magazine to shed light on critical issues, boost awareness of game-changing initiatives, and inspire others.

To be featured, get in touch with us here:

mtwb@sparxpg.com

Wealth has long been weaponized, creating divisions based on social class and excluding Indigenous Peoples from having a seat at the table. To shift the narrative and usher in true economic reconciliation, money needs to be used as medicine and matrilineal ways need to be restored.

We spoke with Sage Lacerte, Founder & CEO of Sage Initiative, about how this collective is accelerating the rematriation of the Indigenous economy by supporting Indigenous womxn in the impact investment space.

What was the “spark” that ﬁ rst inspired you to start Sage Initiative?

As my mentor, Carol Anne Hilton, CEO and Founder of The Indigenomics Institute, says, “We are living in a time of Indigenous economic resurgence.” Sage Initiative was founded in 2019 and was an expression of love for all my relations, for Mother Earth, humans, and non-human beings.

The “spark” that first inspired me to start Sage Initiative was when I learned more about how rich our Indigenous economy is and the realization that we are currently witnessing a generational shift in action and mindset toward a resurgence of Indigenous concepts of commerce.

I asked, how can the impact investment sector contribute to the betterment of Indigenous communities in Canada? How can more Indigenous womxn take a seat at the economic table? How can impact investors participate in economic reconciliation and make values-aligned investments in Indigenous women and Two-Spirit–owned businesses?

Despite the growth in impact investing in Canada, Indigenous communities and businesses have stated that access to capital remains a significant impediment. Attracting patient capital for Indigenous-led businesses requires work on both sides: investors must familiarize themselves with potentially new business models, and entrepreneurs must be able to build their network, be willing to build partnerships, and showcase their work.

In our matrilineal societies, the matriarchs decide what the needs are of the community. So, by becoming investors, we are healing. That’s very central to the work of decolonizing, and it’s very central to the way that Indigenous commerce systems have worked for a very long time.

We want to shift the narrative because the systems of capitalism use wealth as a tool to divide people based on social class, and that system was not built with Indigenous people in mind. We are restoring our balance within ourselves and with the land. We are decolonizing wealth and restoring money as medicine.

This innovation brings an Indigenous approach to wealth. Circular in nature, our interwoven pedagogy introduces technical investing skills and practices with a balanced approach to investment that equally values social, environmental, and economic benefits. This is my chosen mechanism to promote intergenerational wealth and prosperity.

Sage Initiative Building a pathway for Indigenous womxn impact investors

Sage Initiative has set the precedent for Indigenous womxn in impact investment globally.

Sage Initiative facts

■Sage Initiative is a national network of Indigenous womxn impact investors — the first and only Indigenous womxn’s impact investing collective in Canada.

■As part of the program, the collective of Indigenous womxn investors commit to investing between $1,000 and $50,000 (either alone or as partners) in these businesses.

■Impact investments are long-term commitments, often spanning 10–15 years, allowing capital to create lasting change.

■As with the rest of the impact investing market in Canada, the number of products for Indigenous-focused impact investing is quite low. There are zero Indigenous-owned businesses on the Toronto Stock Exchange or Indigenous mutual funds. Sage Initiative presents an opportunity for impact investors to invest in Indigenous-owned social purpose businesses.

■Many Indigenous womxn entrepreneurs have diﬃ culty finding Indigenous womxn business mentors. Sage Initiative ensures that their circle of cousins is treated with dignity and respect in a culturally and gender- aﬃ rming environment where knowledge is reciprocal and accessible.

■Visit sageinitiative.ca/apply

The images were taken by Katie Iacobellis at the Sage Initiative Harvest in Summer 2023. Photographed are members of Sage Initiative Indigenous Womxn Impact Investment Collective.

What do you consider to be your biggest success? Can you share any stories of the impact your work has had that have surprised you?

Sage Initiative was chosen as one of the first selected projects of the highly innovative program, the Indigenous Innovation Initiative.

One of the largest impact-first investors in Canada, Grand Challenges Canada (GCC) has supported a pipeline of over 1,300 innovations in 106 countries. The Indigenous Innovation Initiative (I3) is the first GCC program delivered in Canada with a focus on innovations led by Indigenous womxn innovators. The 10 selected projects have created impact across diverse areas, such as pre- and post-natal health, sustainable beauty, human sex traﬃ cking and sex exploitation, and food sovereignty and sustainability.

As a result of this support, Sage Initiative has set the precedent for Indigenous womxn in impact investment globally.

This year, Sage Initiative will host our third cohort of 15 Indigenous womxn impact investors and begin our journey transitioning to scale across Canada.

Our great successes this year have been hosting our first Sage Initiative Harvest Ceremony in Victoria, British Columbia, where members of cohorts 1 and 2 gathered for a week of ceremony and reflection to provide meaningful evaluation for the Initiative.

We also hosted two pitch events featuring Indigenous womxn–owned businesses from across Canada, including Chelsee Pettit from ᐋᓃᓐ aaniin retail inc., ENB Artisan, and The Yukon Soaps Company.

We have graduated two cohorts of Indigenous womxn impact investors from Ottawa, Toronto, Vancouver, Tofino, Squamish, Edmonton, Burns Lake, Nanaimo, Halifax, and many more.

In our evaluation, investors have reported:

■“Sage Initiative has allowed me to think much further into my future with more intention and critical thinking. I’ve adopted an intergenerational mindset when it comes to money, whether that ends up being my own children and grandchildren, or simply youth as a whole that deserve this knowledge and to be continuously uplifted.”

- Sage Initiative participant

■“It's transferred to other aspects of my life — when I stopped getting dopamine fixes from online shopping, I've traded it for kickboxing routines three times per day. I see my health as an investment now.”

- Sage Initiative participant

■“As a result of Sage Initiative, I have given myself permission to spend without feeling guilty or anxious.” - Sage Initiative participant

■“My views have been completely altered since I myself have become an investor after being a part of Sage Initiative. I now see potential in everyone to be an investor especially the people and Indigenous people that will do good and be inclusive with their investments.”- Year 2 participant

■“I feel worthy of money now. Money always felt unattainable. I never thought it would come into fruition for me.” - Year 1 participant

■“I met investors who had a good heart and were just everyday people, not necessarily working in a bank. Investors can be my aunties, my cousins, my family.”

- Year 1 participant We have also found that:

■100% of Sage Initiative participants feel ready to make an investment.

■100% of Sage Initiative participants have made an investment since joining the collective.

■80% feel they could now be a successful social impact investor.

■Not only did our program create the trauma-informed safety conditions to create belonging for participants, 95% of Sage participants said they felt belonging in the Indigenous Impact Investor community.

1. LGBT Capital. (2020). Estimated LGBT Purchasing Power: LGBT-GDP.

How do you feel having a platform and community help to make the world better?

Sage focuses on Indigenous-owned sustainable energy projects, underscoring the urgent need to address environmental concerns alongside social impact.

Financial capital alone is insuﬃ cient.

We emphasize the importance of social capital, community connections, gift economy, and entrepreneurial mindset.

We facilitate access to financial resources, networks, and mentorship. The Initiative aims to empower Indigenous women and non-binary individuals to feel a sense of belonging in the impact investment landscape. We work to transcend the current investment paradigm which privileges androcentric and extractivist worldviews.

Creating a seat at the economic table for Indigenous women, two-spirit, non-binary folks is deeply important to me. The purchasing power of the queer community is significant. The entire venture capital industry is led by white cisgender males, and because of that there is an implicit bias. 2SLGBTQIA+ founders are routinely overlooked and undervalued. Many members of the queer community relate to each other with feelings of longing to belong and feeling out of place in heteronor-mative environments. Not only are we looking to support Indigenous founders, but building on this demographic, it is important to define a 2SLGBTQIA+ lens in our impact investment thesis.

Roughly 2 million people in Canada identify as 2SLGBTQIA+, collectively spending $90 billion per year.1 I want to role model what it looks like for a queer Indigenous woman to stand at the forefront of innovation in the Indigenous impact investment landscape.

What are some of the challenges you typically face in building out your audience?

My personal journey and academic background in gender policy shaped the design of Sage Initiative. Instead of perpetuating the Western-centric approach prevalent in mainstream finance education, I recognized the importance of honouring Indigenous epistemology and creating a curriculum rooted in Indigenous concepts of commerce.

I did not want anyone in the industry to assume that Indigenous womxn’s success is due to our gender but rather our skills and competence.

I have also faced racism. Economic reconciliation will look like white people being comfortable with Indigenous people’s wealth.

Are there any upcoming initiatives or projects you'd like to share?

Sage Initiative is planning to launch our third impact investment cohort of 15 Indigenous womxn impact investors in September 2024. We plan to transition to scale in 2024 as well, with cohorts across Canada widely available to Indigenous and non-Indigenous folks!

How can people help support your mission?

We invite Indigenous womxn to apply to Sage Initiative.

If you would like to lend your expertise and lived experience, join Sage Initiative`s national network as a mentor.

We also encourage you to buy Indigiqueer-owned products and services, educate yourself on colonization and how to engage in reconciliation, and create space at the economic table for equity-deserving communities.

sageinitiative.ca linkedin.com/company/sage-initiative instagram.com/sageinitiative_ (@sageinitiative_) linktr.ee/sageinitiative youtube.com/@SageInitiative

Sometimes reading the news feels like wading through a mire, with no bright stories to interrupt the gloom. Curated, constructive news stories are needed to bring readers onto solid ground, shed light on solutions, and oﬀ er a much-needed reprieve.

We spoke with Jonathan Widder, Founder of Squirrel News, about how this application is sharing solutions-oriented stories and innovative approaches to help readers face today’s challenges with hope and clarity.

What was the “spark” that inspired you to start creating Squirrel News content?

Since 2015, I’d known about the ideas of constructive journalism and solutions journalism, and had dealt with these approaches in various projects. I saw how much readers longed for these kinds of stories but also how diﬃ cult it was for them to get a quality news digest of new solutions and societal progress. So, when the time came and my former job ended, I decided to take things into my own hands and founded an independent nonprofit to provide this news digest with my own team.

Squirrel News Nourishing readers with solutions-oriented stories

What do you consider to be your biggest success? Can you share any stories of the impact your work has had that have surprised you?

A few months after our launch, German national TV paid us a visit at home — as, everything else was closed because of the COVID-19 pandemic — and a month later, an Emmy-winning comic, actor, and screenwriter from Los Angeles contacted us and eventually became the co-host of our new podcast. At the same time, I was elected as a LEDE fellow with the Solutions Journalism Network.

In a survey we conducted earlier this year, our readers stated that reading Squirrel News improves their mental well-being and helps them to make sense of the world.

But the most surprising moment hap-pened on our podcast when we interviewed a researcher and activist for open prisons from India: prisons without walls, wardens, and guns. She was an expert on the topic and had successfully lobbied for a spread of these prisons across India — but when we asked her whether she knew the very similar prison model in Brazil, it turned out that she didn’t. We were able to make her aware of that, so she could connect, exchange, and potentially join forces with the activists in Brazil.

How do you feel having a platform and community help to make the world better?

It feels good to provide something that many people are looking for and to regularly have readers thank you for it. You definitely have the feeling that you’re on the right side of the world, and it’s a good and probably also important feeling to contribute to solutions and not to problems.

What are some of the challenges you typically face in creating content or building out your audience?

I guess in our digital era it’s just diﬃ cult to get people’s attention, as there are so many different media outlets, organizations, and other people diffusing information — established media, news outlets, blogs, social media, and so on.

Then, of course, there’s our very tight budget.

We started things without any investors or big funding, so it’s always diﬃ cult to find the necessary resources to spread the word about our work.

Are there any upcoming initiatives or projects you'd like to share?

We just released the first major update of our mobile app since its inception, where we’ve made several major improvements and added a number of features to make using Squirrel News even more fun. Now we're working on a funny and quite unique format to present our news in TikTok and Instagram videos.

How can people help support your mission?

People can read our news on our mobile app, newsletter, or website; spread the word about Squirrel News, both online and oﬄ ine; and support us with recurring donations to make sure we can continue our work.

Bonus: Why did you choose the name Squirrel News?

I thought a squirrel is a good symbol for what we do, as we collect solutions-focused news, just as a squirrel collects nuts. Apart from that, I was looking for something more entertaining than those usual dry names with three letters. I had the impression that many journalists take themselves a bit too seriously — even though they often do important work — so the squirrel is also an antidote against that.

Squirrel News Podcast On the Squirrel News Podcast, Jonathan Widder, Squirrel News Founder, and Ed Crasnick, an Emmy-winning writer and comic from Los Angeles, welcome guests who are changing the world for the better. Give it a listen:

squirrel-news.net/podcast.

squirrel-news.net facebook.com/squirrelnews twitter.com/squirrelnews_en (@squirrelnews_en) linkedin.com/company/squirrel-news instagram.com/squirrelnews (@squirrelnews) newsie.social/ @squirrelnews_en Plus, be sure to check out the Squirrel News app: available on the App Store and Google Play Store.

In a survey we conducted earlier this year, our readers stated that reading Squirrel News improves their mental well-being and helps them to make sense of the world.

Jonathan Widder, Founder

AMPLIFIERS Problem Progress In today’s noisy world, it’s difficult for changemakers to gain attention and grow their impact.

Nearly 5 billion people worldwide use social media,1 individuals average 151 minutes on social media daily,2 and the social media advertising market is expected to reach US$207 billion in 2023.3 Internet users are constantly confronted with ads and distractions, so it’s easy to get lost in the shuffle.

Despite the noise, users are engaging with the causes they believe in and supporting brands, influencers, and initiatives.

Sources:

1. Demand Sage 2. Statista 3. Statista A whopping 90% of social media users follow brands online,1 with 76% saying that have purchased something they saw on social media,2 and 50% of Millennials trust product recommendations from social media influencers.3

FACTS Sources:

1. Instagram 2. Retail TouchPoints 3. Morning Consult This proves that changemakers have the power to break through distractions and reach the right audience — especially when folks help amplify and share their stories.

Sustainable living helps fight climate change and build a better world, but the journey can often feel overwhelming and discouraging. To keep people motivated, it’s important to apply a creative, intersectional lens, providing encouragement, expertise, and a touch of levity, so everyone can make big and small changes in their lives.

We spoke with Jessie Johnston, Founder, Publisher, and Editrix-in-Chief of Asparagus Magazine, about how this publication is using storytelling to inspire and support a community of readers determined to live sustainably.

What was the “spark” that inspired you to start creating Asparagus Magazine content?

I founded Asparagus in 2018 because it was the magazine I wanted to read but just couldn’t find. Despite my passion for the environment and social justice, I mostly read magazines focused on other subjects. My favourite was Wired, a publication that brings together in-depth reporting, excellent writing, practical tips, and big-picture thinking, all woven through with a refreshing thread of irreverence.

When I first dreamed up Asparagus, there seemed to be two major trends in storytelling about sustainability: articles were either focused on small consumer choices, with guidance that was easy to digest but often not backed up by reliable evidence, or they were evidence-based examinations of big issues that were heavy and depressing to read.

Sometimes people want to understand a complex systemic issue, and sometimes they just need help picking toilet paper. My goal was to create a place where skilled writers could tell both the large and small stories of how we can live sustainably and tell them in a way that took the issues seriously without taking ourselves too seriously. The “Wired of green,” as it were.

Readers can care about the environment and social justice, and also want a break from the dread of 21st century living. So, from the very beginning, Asparagus has been a publication that values humour and creativity as highly as we value rigorous fact-checking and an intersectional worldview.

Asparagus Magazine Inspiring audiences with sustainable storytelling Left to Right: Asparagus Vancouver-area team members Aniana Dominguez, Christine Fwu, Jessie Johnston (holding dearly departed Feline-In-Chief Millicent), Alia Dharssi, Zohra Shahabuddin, Daina Lawrence, and Sun Woo Baik at a rare in-person gathering in 2022.

Photo credit: Sun Woo Baik

What do you consider to be your biggest success?

Our biggest success was winning the award for British Columbia Magazine of the Year at the 2022 Alberta Magazine Awards. For a publication as small as ours, receiving that recognition from our peers was meaningful and inspiring. We’re also thrilled that an initiative we’re a collaborator on — the Climate Disaster Project1 — has been nominated in the Engagement category of the 2023 Covering Climate Now Journalism Awards.

It’s pretty incredible to be part of a finalists list with international heavy hitters like The Guardian and Al Jazeera.

How do you feel having a platform and community help to make the world better?

The cover story of our most recent issue was called “We're All in This Together,” and that’s as true of the climate crisis as it was of the COVID-19 pandemic. So many of the world’s problems arise from people’s failure to recognize our deep interconnectedness with each other and the rest of life on Earth.

■Nominated for 10 publishing and journalism awards since 2021 at regional, national, and international levels.

■In addition to winning the award for BC Magazine of the Year, Asparagus won silver at both the 2021 Alberta Magazine Awards for BC Story of the Year and the 2021 Canadian Online Publishing Awards for Best Feel Good Story: Consumer.

Since publishing the Winter 2021 cover story on bats, the Asparagus team has learned something surprising: Everybody loves bats, but nobody knows that everybody else loves bats! This issue is by far the most popular choice when they give copies away at farmers markets.

Photo credit: Erin Flegg

Storytelling is one of the most powerful tools humans have to bridge those divides.

By publishing stories that connect our readers to their neighbours, to people continents away, and to the ecosystems we’re all part of, Asparagus can strengthen those readers’ resolve — and capacity — to take action in their own lives that can impact the planet as a whole.

Stories not only help people better understand each other and the world around us, but they also bring people together. Our journalism has enabled us to create a community of readers who gather around issues they care about and want to understand better.

Since 2018, we’ve presented virtual and in-person documentary screenings and discussions, and in August 2022, we held our first in-person event in over two years.

That sold-out gathering — co-hosted with EartHand Gleaners Society — was a joyful opportunity for us to share the sustainable textile expertise of EartHand’s artists with some of our longtime readers and welcome EartHand fans to our community. These kinds of opportunities to learn and connect are critical to building the informed coalitions we need to make things better for all life on Earth.

What are some of the challenges you typically face in creating content or building out your audience?

We are a tiny organization with an even tinier budget. It’s important to us to always pay contributors, even if we can’t pay them as much as we think they deserve. As such, we’re only able to publish as many stories as we can afford to pay for, which, these days, is not very many. But without new content, it’s hard to grow our audience to the size that could support us. It’s a vicious circle we’re trying hard to break out of so we can create award-winning, thought-provoking journalism for years to come.

And, as of this August, we've been hit with a new challenge to growing our audience: having all our posts and links to our website blocked in Canada on both Facebook and Instagram as a result of Meta's punitive response to recent federal legislation.2 Are there any upcoming initiatives or projects you'd like to share?

We are working on building partnerships that will help us get back to publishing online and in print with the frequency of past years. If you work with or know of an organization looking to collaborate on high-quality journalism about how we can live sustainably, we’d love to connect. Our next exciting initiative could be a partnership with you!

How can people help support your mission?

Having the COVID-19 pandemic start just as we celebrated publishing our second issue meant we weren’t able to build our audience the way we had planned at a time when our young organization really needed to grow. As a result, we don’t have the number of readers or financial supporters that we need to sustainably support the work we created Asparagus to do.

People who believe in our mission can best support us by subscribing to the print magazine and/or by making a financial donation. Those who can’t contribute financially can still help by spreading the word about our work to their communities, whether by posting on social media, requesting that their local library or newsstand stock the magazine, or, most impactful of all, making individual recommendations to family, friends, and co-workers who want to build a just society on a healthy planet.

1. Check out the Climate Disaster Project at climatedisasterproject.com.

2. Read “Your questions about Meta and other social media giants blocking news in Canada, explained,” from July 21, 2023, on CBC News’ website, cbc.ca/news.

asparagusmagazine.com facebook.com/asparagusmag twitter.com/asparagusmag (@asparagusmag) linkedin.com/company/asparagus-magazine instagram.com/asparagus.mag (@asparagus.mag) Alia Dharssi, Deputy Editor of Asparagus, connecting with readers old and new at East Van's Trout Lake Farmers Market.

Photo credit: Jessie Johnston

U p c y c l i n g

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C y c l i n g

Y o u r

W a s t e!

U p c y c l i n g

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W a s t e.

C y c l i n g

Y o u r

W a s t e!

Learn More F I B R E Susgrainable.ca Exercise Exercise Your Your Insides Insides In Select BC Retailers Or Online At Susgrainable.ca Find Us

I n the face of global crises, historically-excluded communities are disproportionately impacted by the eﬀ ects of climate change.

Luckily, there is a growing movement that looks at this issue through an intersectional lens, and the individuals behind it are working hard to educate others and spread awareness to take action.

We spoke with Sabs Katz, Co- Founder and Partnerships Lead at Intersectional Environmentalist, about how this collective is amplifying the intersectional environmentalism movement through content creation, activations, education, and community-building.

What was the “spark” that inspired you to start creating Intersectional Environmentalist content?

Intersectional Environmentalist (IE) was founded during the resurgence of the civil rights movement back in 2020.

After the murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, there was little vocal support from the environmental community.

Leah Thomas (@greengirlleah) created an Instagram post that would end up going viral, calling on climate advocates to stand in solidarity with Black lives and defining intersectional environmentalism.

With the momentum and support from the climate justice community online, Leah connected with fellow en-vironmentalists like Diandra Marizet (@ diandramarizet), Phil Aiken (@philthe-fixer), myself (@sustainablesabs), and our larger community to develop a resource hub and Instagram page for learning more about the intersections between climate and social justice.

What do you consider to be your biggest success? Can you share any stories of the impact your work has had that have surprised you?

There are so many things we’ve been proud of, but if I have to choose one I’d say it’s the community we’ve built. Being in community with and having support Intersectional Environmentalist Amplifying intersectionality in the climate space IE team and community at the inaugural Earth Sessions Show in Brooklyn in April 2022.

from 500K individuals across the world has been so aﬃ rming. Seeing folks engage with and use our resources, as well as start clubs and groups dedicated to intersectional environmentalism, seeing students change their school curriculum, and even hearing the White House speak to the importance of intersectionality in the climate space1 shows just how prolific this movement is and how much it’s needed!

How do you feel having a platform and community help to make the world better?

It’s been incredible to have a pulse on our reach and to see how people are taking the message of intersectional environmentalism and really embodying it. By leading with climate optimism, storytelling, and solutions, our community has taken these environmental justice learnings and empowered themselves to start community groups, join local gardens, and participate in wealth distribution for grassroots organizations.

What are some of the challenges you typically face in creating content or building out your audience?

Challenges like the ever-changing algorithm, emerging trends, and digital burnout have encouraged us to get creative and reimagine how we disseminate and share our resources with people. Content creation and education/awareness will always be a part of our offerings, so we’re excited to continue navigating the digital landscape and using social media as a tool for building this movement.

Are there any upcoming initiatives or projects you'd like to share?

We’re currently re-imagining the next chapter for IE, and through that process are focusing on continuing to support our online community with educational assets and fostering more in-person activations that bridge communities with their local environmental justice (EJ) leaders through offerings like Earth Sessions (@earthsessions.ie), workshops, campus visits, and book giveaway meet-ups.

How can people help support your mission?

Following and engaging with our content, joining local environmental justice initiatives, taking action toward the things you’re passionate about (e.g.

joining a community garden, supporting frontline communities, voting, etc.), amplifying climate optimism and solutions, and supporting grassroots climate justice organizations are all ways we, as individuals, can support a more equitable and inclusive future.

IE's The Joy Report Podcast The Joy Report is a podcast dedicated to sharing stories about climate solutions and environmental justice grounded in intersectionality, optimism, and joy. Financial support for The Joy Report goes toward curating episodes and paying BIPOC writers for sharing stories on the organizations and heroes fighting for equity and inclusion in the outdoors.

Available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify 1. Read “Remarks by Vice President Harris in a Moderated Conversation on Climate” from January 12, 2023, on The White House’s website, whitehouse.gov.

Being in community with and having support from 500K individuals across the world has been so affirming.

Xiuhtezcatl performing at IE Earth Sessions Show in Los Angeles in summer 2022.

IE Team and community at a hike in Southern California in 2021.

intersectionalenvironmentalist.com facebook.com/intersectionalenvironmentalist twitter.com/isxenviro (@isxenviro) instagram.com/intersectionalenvironmentalist (@intersectionalenvironmentalist) youtube.com/ @intersectionalenvironmenta1731 tiktok.com/@isxenvironmentalist linktr.ee/isxenvironmentalist Photo credit: Mekhi Marcelino

Online communities can lead to powerful real-world connections. With the right content, tools, and a dash of radical vulnerability, creating a platform to share stories has helped close gaps and bring more people into the fight against climate change, especially those often left in the fray.

We spoke with Kristy Drutman, Founder of Brown Girl Green, about how her platform is empowering conversations, community, and careers in the climate change space.

What was the “spark” that inspired you to start advocating for and creating content about environmental rights?

When Typhoon Haiyan hit the Philippines, I felt devastated about the impacts the climate crisis was having and would have on the country where my family members live. I realized I had a responsibility and privilege to use my voice to raise awareness about these issues, especially in the US.

Brown Girl Green Creating tangible climate-related impact via a powerful online community My biggest success was building an online community where people started learning about each other's work and actually meeting each other in real life after discovering one another through the Brown Girl Green platform.

Kristy Drutman

What do you consider to be your biggest success? Can you share any stories of the impact your work has had that have surprised you?

My biggest success was building an online community where people started learning about each other's work and actually meeting each other in real life after discovering one another through the Brown Girl Green platform.

Further, creating the Green Jobs Board, a company now helping thousands of people find and secure jobs to work on the climate crisis, feels like a true, tangible impact I've created through digital media tools. I identified a major pain point and storytelling gap when it comes to mobilizing and bringing more people into the movement: finding spaces and opportunities for them to build long-term, lifetime careers. Multiple young people of colour are on my team, working to address accessibility gaps in the world of climate work and to begin building the standard for a sustainable and equitable future.

How do you feel having a platform and community help to make the world better?

Having a platform creates a space for conversations that otherwise wouldn't be prioritized or heard. It increases the surface area of opportunity for communities and campaigns that otherwise get left offthe radar by the mainstream media. It provides me with the agency and autonomy to put out good work in the world without having too many strings attached to me in the process. In that way, my radical vulnerability creates a space of permission for others to strive and speak their own truth as well.

What are some of the challenges you typically face in creating content or building out your audience?

Algorithmic suppression of BIPOC creators, internet trolls/haters, and keeping the work funded through partnerships, collaborations, and my management team. All of this requires a lot of energy and brainpower to ensure the moving puzzle pieces create a sustainable platform and workflow. Also having to vet who I work with — based on ethics, sustainability of my work, etc. — takes it to the next level.

Are there any upcoming initiatives or projects you'd like to share?

Yes! The new release of greenjobsboard.

us. For any companies and organizations looking for a platform to hire amazing, diverse talent, please consider using Green Jobs Board! Also, the Brown Girl Green podcast is up and on fire these days with weekly episodes all about climate education and environmental justice. If you're looking for an environmental podcast curated with fascinating topics and full of melanin, subscribe to wherever you listen to shows and the Brown Girl Green YouTube channel.

How can people help support your mission?

I am always looking for organizations and values-aligned businesses to collaborate with, whether it be speaking engagements, workshops, content, or getting green jobs up on our site! If you're someone who feels aligned with my work and mission to bring more diversity, equity, and inclusion to the climate space via storytelling and education, please hit me up!

Creating the Green Jobs Board, a company now helping thousands of people find and secure jobs to work on the climate crisis, feels like a true, tangible impact I've created through digital media tools.

browngirlgreen.com browngirlgreen.com/greenjobs facebook.com/browngirlgreen twitter.com/browngirl_green (@BrownGirl_Green) linkedin.com/company/brown-girl-green instagram.com/browngirl_green (@browngirl_green) youtube.com/@BrownGirlGreen patreon.com/browngirlgreen communities.kajabi.com/browngirlgreen/challenges Left: Kristy speaking at the UN 2023 Water Conference.

Bottom: Kristy speaking to a group and doing resume review for green job seekers at the Earth Day festival in New York City.

Building a sustainable world where future generations can ﬂ ourish within nature’s limits is going to take a lot of work from dedicated communities. In order to accelerate their sustainability journey, changemakers need free, accessible resources that will help them carry out this work as eﬀ ectively as possible.

We spoke with Bob Willard, Founder of Sustainability Advantage, about how his platform is providing sustainability champions worldwide with the tools they need to make a lasting impact.

What was the “spark” that inspired you to start creating Sustainable Advantage content?

There were four sparks that inspired me.

First, in the mid-1990s, my wife and I became concerned about the planned location of a new water treatment plant for our community, Ajax, Ontario. We were uneasy about its close proximity to the upstream Pickering Nuclear Generating Station. Our concerns about the amount of unremovable radioactive tritium in our drinking water led to a three-year effort with multiple levels of government to relocate the water treatment plant. We were not successful. However, the intake pipe for the water plant was angled away from the Pickering nuclear plant, further out into Lake Ontario and deeper down, so the tritium would be more diluted. The experience shook my naïve faith that the people in charge were looking after us. It was a wake-up call that, as citizens, we sometimes have to roll up our sleeves and get involved. We also moved.

Second, during the water plant saga, my day job was leadership development at IBM Canada. We used learning organization principles in that training, so I undertook a part-time master’s degree about learning organizations at the University of Toronto (UofT). As the water plant issue evolved, I decided to complete my studies with courses at the UofT School of the Environment.

That was an eye-opener. I had no idea how we were jeopardizing the ecosystem services on which human civilization depends.

There were bigger issues than tritium in drinking water that needed our attention.

Third, also during the mid-1990s, I stumbled across The Natural Step (TNS) and learned how we were violating the four science-based system conditions for a thriving human society of a finite planet. We expect governments to fix this, but governments can’t do it alone. From my 34 years of experience at IBM, I knew that the resources, creativity, and influence of the business community were needed as well. But most companies only do things that benefit their bottom lines. We needed a compelling business case that reassured companies it was in their best interest to help address pressing environmental and social issues.

I couldn’t find a convincing business case for corporate sustainability, so I decided to create one. It was my master’s thesis.

Sustainability Advantage Amplifying sustainability efforts with effective resources

Fourth, my master’s thesis advisor casually suggested that I should convert my thesis into a book. I laughed. Why would I do that? Writing a book sounded like a lot of work. But he had planted a seed. In 2000, I received my master’s degree and retired from IBM. I don’t golf, so I decided to spend my leisure hours converting my thesis into a book, The Sustainability Advantage. I also created spreadsheets to help any company assess how much more profit it could make if it improved its environmental and social impacts. The book was published in 2002. The same year, I founded my sole proprietorship, Sustainability Advantage.

Being a father, and soon-to-be grandfather, those four seeds found fertile ground, and my new career as a sustainability champion was launched. My family’s future was at stake. We need all hands on deck with tools that enable them to be effective change agents.

What do you consider to be your biggest success? Can you share any stories of the impact your work has had that have surprised you?

Over the last 23 years, I have written six books, one of which is available in Portuguese, and given over 1,600 talks worldwide. I have served on the boards of many not-for-profit/non-governmental organizations. I am a Certified B Corp, qualify as a social enterprise, and have earned several awards for my work. I provide over a dozen free, open-source tools on my website to help sustainability champions assess organizational sustainability performance and cost-justify improvements. Subscribers can use and tailor the 900+ slides in my six Master Slide Decks for their purposes, saving them the effort of researching and creating the slides from scratch.

I am helping sustainability champions make an impact with these resources.

Occasionally, I am approached by someone who heard me do a talk several years ago and they say it changed their lives. I get asked back to do guest presentations in college and university courses and do many keynotes at conferences worldwide.

“Success” is creating resources that are useful. So far, I have anecdotal evidence that they are for the thousands who have downloaded them. That’s good enough for me.

How do you feel having a platform and community help to make the world better?

“You have to do it yourself; you can’t do it alone,” is one of the leadership paradoxes I explain in The Sustainability Champion’s Guidebook. As a sole proprietor, I have to work through others. I’ve served on the boards of influential organizations like TNS Canada, the Sustainable Purchasing Leadership Council (SPLC), and B Lab’s Standards Advisory Council (SAC). My website platform, with over a dozen free, open-source resources, helps the community of sustainability champions be more effective change agents. My 50–80 talks per year provide an opportunity to alert people to resources that can help them be more effective change agents so that they don’t waste time recreating them. It feels good to continuously hear back from kindred spirits who are making a difference in their spheres of influence with the aid of my resources.

We need all hands on deck with tools that enable them to be effective change agents.

Bob Willard

What are some of the challenges you typically face in creating content or building out your audience?

I have had the privilege of working with some amazing people to create my resources. I continuously upgrade them with new ideas and suggestions from users and reviewers. Creating content is the fun part. Building out the audience/users is the challenge. I am uneasy that well-intentioned sustainability champions may still be wasting time reinventing the wheel. I need to be better at raising awareness of my free, open-source resources.

Are there any upcoming initiatives or projects you'd like to share?

I am very concerned about climate change.

I’m heavily engaged in encouraging governments, especially the Canadian government, to integrate Net-Zero Procurement (NZP) elements into their current procurement processes. NZP ensures that the buyer/government gets the best value for money by procuring the most climate-friendly goods and services from suppliers who are the most committed to science-based net-zero targets. The buying power of companies and governments using Net-Zero Procurement is a market force that will mobilize businesses in the race to net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050 or sooner.

In a robust NZP system, all suppliers, regardless of size or sector, must disclose their net-zero GHG reduction targets and plans. The disclosures include their current direct and indirect GHG inventories, their commitment to science-based net-zero targets, and their plans to reach those time-based targets.

In Canada, as in all countries, over 98% of companies are small,1 having fewer than 100 employees. Many of them are in government supply chains and would be required to make the above disclosures. However, most net-zero disclosure frameworks and standards are designed for large companies. They are very challenging for a small supplier. That’s why I created a short, reasonable questionnaire — the free, open-source Net-Zero Assessment Tool (NZAT) — for use by small and medium–sized enterprises who do not have the benefit of in-house sustainability staffor expertise. It enables any-size supplier to self-assess and disclose its commitment to net-zero targets.

Further, a NZP system makes the disclosed scores matter. All requests for pro-posals (RFPs) assign a weight of 10%–30% of the points — enough to make it matter — to suppliers’ net-zero assessment scores.

For example, if the weight assigned to a supplier’s net-zero score was 20% and a supplier’s overall score on the net-zero assessment questionnaire was 68%, the supplier would earn 13.6% of the 20% weight.

This approach incentivizes suppliers’ efforts to attain science-based net-zero targets, improve their scores, and earn preferential treatment over their competitors.

Why would a supplier bother making these net-zero disclosures? Because their important customer asks them to and their answer matters. If a supplier chooses not to complete the questionnaire, it is still My vision is a sustainable world in which people and businesses flourish within nature’s limits. My mission is to provide resources to sustainability champions to help accelerate our sustainability journey before it’s too late.

1. Pinzon Delgado, E., Fair, R., and Johnston, C. (2023). Analysis on small businesses in Canada, ﬁ rst quarter of 2023. Statistics Canada.

eligible to be a supplier; it just earns a score of zero on their net-zero efforts and will not earn any of the points allotted to supplier net-zero commitment in the bid appraisal.

It’s the supplier’s choice. That’s the magic in the disclosure superpower of NZP: it’s voluntary, it’s easy, and it matters.

How can people help support your mission?

My purpose is to ensure future generations have the opportunity for at least the quality of life that I have enjoyed. My vision is a sustainable world in which people and businesses flourish within nature’s limits. My mission is to provide resources to sustainability champions to help accelerate our sustainability journey before it’s too late.

People can support me by using my free, open-source resources to help them be more effective change agents, starting with addressing the climate crisis.

For example, my save-the-world strategy starts with helping the Canadian government implement Net-Zero Procurement. Then we can package the system elements and make them available to other levels of government and to other countries. This improves the probability of meeting science-based global GHG reduction targets in time.

Because NZP gives bonus points to suppliers if they use NZP with their own suppliers. NZP will soon be used by companies, worldwide.

Net-Zero Procurement is a starter set for a more comprehensive sustainable procurement system.

Sustainable procurement (SP) ensures that the buyers/governments get the best value for money by procuring the most sustainable goods and services from the most sustainable suppliers. SP creates a market for sustainable products and an economy in which the most sustainable companies thrive. When governments and companies everywhere implement an SP system that makes sustainability scores matter, we will have attained the sustainable society, economy, and environment that we want.

Then I can really retire.

Check out the full library of Bob Willard’s sustainability resource books:

sustainabilityadvantage.com/books-dvds sustainabilityadvantage.com twitter.com/bob_willard (@bob_willard) linkedin.com/in/bobwillardsustainabilityguy

Source:

1. Unite for Change

AMPLIFIERS Problem The global crises we’re currently facing can feel incredibly overwhelming, to the point where many people may think that they have no power to make a difference.

For example, 75% of Canadians say they are experiencing climate change anxiety and 5% say they don’t know how they can help fight climate change.1

Source:

1. Learning for a Sustainable Future

FACTS Progress Luckily, there’s still lots of positivity in the world. As more individuals and organizations engage with today’s problems by raising awareness, making lifestyle changes, and sharing their stories, we all have the power to help impact spread far and wide.

Sixty-nine percent of Canadians believe that the work and voices of young people can inspire important climate action.1 Together, we can make a difference.

Love Food Hate Waste Canada Leading a prevention-first approach to food waste Love Food Hate Waste Canada's "Labour of Love" campaign, which showcased real farmers across Canada.

When it comes to our individual fight against climate change, where should we start? We all know the importance of reducing our individual environmental impact, and food waste is one area we can all work on right away, with the right tools, right from the comfort of our own kitchens.

We spoke with Joanne Gauci, Campaign Manager at Love Food Hate Waste Canada, about how this initiative is helping to end food waste by educating Canadians on prevention at home.

What was the “spark” behind the Love Food Hate Waste Canada campaign?

Metro Vancouver first launched Love Food Hate Waste (LFHW) in the region in 2015. Then, building on the success of the regional campaign, we launched the initiative across Canada through the National Zero Waste Council in 2018. The motivation behind launching the campaign was to take a “prevention-first” approach to tackling food waste. Food waste is an urgent but solvable local and global challenge, and through LFHW Canada we are able to work with many partners across the country to inspire and empower people to make their food go further and waste less.

Today, LFHW Canada represents a unique national collaboration, uniting a variety of business, government, and community champions all working together to tackle food waste in the home.

What do you consider to be your biggest success? Can you share any stories of the impact your work has had that have surprised you?

Everybody has a role to play in tackling food waste, and I think our biggest success has been engaging a variety of partners across the country so that everyone hears the same consistent messaging, whether they are at the grocery store or their community market, for example. LFHW Canada has grown to become Canada’s leading resource for preventing household food waste due to the efforts of our partners and champions across the country.

By working together, we are able to have a much bigger impact than we can on our own, and Food Waste Action Week, which has taken place in March for the past two years in a row, is a great example of the power of aligning messaging locally and globally. This is an event that we run in collaboration with the international network of LFHW Canada partners, and for that one week, different organizations come together to raise awareness about the issue and opportunities for change.

Food Waste Action Week 2023, which ran from March 6–12, was the most engaged campaign we have run since we launched in 2018, garnering over three million impressions across Canada for a week of coordinated activity.

How do you feel having a platform and community help to make the world better?

We hear first-hand that the Love Food Hate Waste Canada website and resources have helped families and individuals make their food last longer, save money, and ultimately prevent food waste. Our campaign partners are extremely active as well, sharing food waste prevention tips and messaging in their local communities, and you will see many of them at your summer farmers market. Food waste is one area where citizens can have a huge impact on climate change, and we feel proud to be working with others across the country to tackle this important issue.

■Forty-five percent of avoidable food waste is fruit and vegetables, many grown locally by our Canadian farmers. Our campaign drives home the resources, dedication, and hard work it takes to get food to its final destination:

you and your family. In order to make the most of this food — in other words, prevent this hard-grown food from going to waste — we need to store it correctly.

■We met with farmers across Canada to discover the full journey of our food. We explored the time, labour, and resources invested in producing five of our most wasted fruit and vegetables: apples, potatoes, blueberries, lettuce, and tomatoes. Our A-Z guide provides the best storage solutions to ensure your food lasts fresher for longer.

LFHW Canada has grown to become Canada’s leading resource for preventing household food waste due to the efforts of our partners and champions across the country.

1. The National Zero Waste Council. (2022). Love Food Hate Waste Canada: Making Every Bite Count. Our First Three Years - 2018 to 2021.

What are some of the challenges you typically face in creating content or building out your audience?

We are lucky — there haven’t been a lot of challenges in our content creation to date; people generally love to talk about food and share their own tips and strategies for preventing food waste.

However, we do a lot of myth-busting!

For example, people often think that if they put their food in the green bin, then there isn’t an environmental impact. The green bin is absolutely the best way to manage unavoidable food waste, like banana peels and egg shells, but the truth is Canadians are wasting much more food than they realize. Our research suggests that approximately 63%1 of the food we throw out could have been eaten. That leaves a lot of room for improvement!

Are there any upcoming initiatives or projects you'd like to share?

This year we have a big focus on tackling fresh produce waste, which is the most commonly wasted food type in Canadian homes. We completed research that brings to life the journey of five different foods: blueberries, potatoes, lettuce, tomatoes, and apples.

This research can be found on our website and underpins our current “Labour of Love” campaign, which aims to connect Canadians to the farmers who grow our food and emphasizes the important role of storage in keeping produce fresher for longer.

Ultimately, this campaign is about getting people to think about the story behind their food, and all of the resources, labour, and care that went into making it. This is a multi-phased project that has been partly funded by Environment and Climate Change Canada, and we look forward to reporting on our key findings.

How can people help support your mission?

Share the message that #EveryBiteCounts and encourage fellow Canadians to visit lovefoodhatewaste. ca to get easy tips and tricks to prevent food waste at home.

Our research suggests that approximately 63% of the food we throw out could have been eaten. That leaves a lot of room for improvement!

lovefoodhatewaste.ca facebook.com/lovefoodhatewasteca twitter.com/LFHW_ca (@LFHW_ca) instagram.com/lovefoodhatewasteca (@lovefoodhatewasteca)

Socially Financing Our Future Together, we are building the circular food economy with relational lending, enterprise training, social investment and ecosystem connection.

Harvest Impact supports Southern Ontario enterprises - including non-proﬁts and charities - in the food, farm, and environment sectors.

We provide lending of $2,500 to $50,000, wrap-around enterprise training, and offer impactful opportunities to community investors in support of circular economy transition.

Let’s Connect! harvestimpact.ca Megan Franken, Seedswoman Franken Farm, Lion’s Head, Ontario email: investment@harvestimpact.ca

Every one of us has the power to make a positive change in the world and inspire others to do the same. Sharing the work changemakers are doing with like-minded audiences creates a powerful ripple eﬀ ect that can spread across the world.

We spoke with Whitney Larson, Creative Director of RIPPLE of CHANGE, about how this purpose-driven magazine uplifts changemakers by amplifying their inspiring stories.

What was the “spark” that inspired you to start producing RIPPLE of

CHANGE?

In 2018, I travelled to India with Christy Schmid, another founding partner of the RIPPLE of CHANGE (ROC) team, to work with the Milaan Foundation. We were there to document stories of girls who are fighting to change the education system — quite literally the embodiment of “ripple of change.” These girls are given resources from the Milaan Foundation to go out into their communities and form a group of 20–25 other girls who also want a continued education past the age that their society typically allows. We saw the confidence and strength of these girls and started talking about how we could share their stories and similar stories of changemakers with a larger audience.

As a creative duo — a designer and a photographer — we often found ourselves asking the question, “How can we take our talents and use them to make the world better?” We realized that we could use our creativity and RIPPLE of CHANGE Sharing stories of impact to inspire positive change Pictured here are the ﬁ ve original co-founders of ROC. (Clockwise from top:

Christy Schmid, Mel Sutjiadi, Cicely Belle Blain, Whitney Larson, and Kate Bouchard)

influence to share stories like that of Kushboo and Rajkumari, two girls from rural Uttar Pradesh who transformed their own community through education and empowerment. RIPPLE of CHANGE was born to highlight this story, and hundreds of others, in a way that will inspire and engage a global audience of volunteers, activists, and changemakers. And ultimately, encourage them to join in.

What do you consider to be your biggest success?

The story of our launch. In 2020, when everything felt dark and overwhelming, Christy and I, along with three other founders, were committed to telling stories of hope and change.

As the struggle, pain, and inequity of our collective experience surfaced, we came together, built the brand, and produced and launched the first issue of ROC in under six months.

We chose grounded optimism to offer clear, tangible suggestions for how to take action. I’m proud that our perspective on how to mobilize change was able to connect others in ways we never had before.

Can you share any stories of the impact your work has had that have surprised you?

Before ROC was born, while Christy and I were in India, we spent our first full day with an incredible girl named Rajkumari. She showed us around her village and told us stories about the challenges she overcame to pursue an education. She opened her heart to us and told us about the people who lifted her up and those who tried to stand in her way. At the end of the day, we stood on the roof of her house, taking her picture as the sun went down. She turned to us and said, “Thank you — you made me feel like Superman today.”

It was such a beautiful moment and has become a kind of internal bar, amplifying people and stories like hers to create that positive ripple effect of goodwill, support, and encouragement.

Since then, we feel it when hearing people talk about what they learned from our articles or seeing the excitement on someone’s face when we discuss how we can tell their story to inspire others. We have that excitement on our internal team, but it’s so RIPPLE of CHANGE was born to highlight this story, and hundreds of others, in a way that will inspire and engage a global audience of volunteers, activists, and changemakers. And ultimately, encourage them to join in.

One of ROC’s favourite steps in the production process is hanging the pages on the wall and reviewing the book from a bird's eye lens. Here, their Chicago mascot Hass, is giving it a ﬁ nal review.

encouraging to have it reinforced by the responses and actions of others.

How do you feel having a platform and community help to make the world better?

Hopeful. And proud of all the people who have opened their hearts, arms, and minds to the ideas.

We often talk about the power of small conversations. We encourage people to speak up and ask questions, even if they’re talking to an audience of one, because you never know how far that conversation will travel. There’s no telling how your ideas and perspective might open the mind of someone who was closed offto change in the past.

What are some of the challenges you typically face in creating content or building out your audience?

Fear and anger can be conversation stop-pers. We’ve worked hard to build a platform that encourages inclusivity. That is why the foundation of each of our stories is a personal or lived experience.

Even if you don’t understand the entire experience, you can usually relate to a person on some level and that starts to open hearts and minds. We hope readers approach our stories and content with a sense of curiosity and willingness to engage with a perspective other than their own.

Are there any upcoming initiatives or projects you'd like to share?

We have a few projects in the idea-building phase and will be sharing more in our newsletter soon. We’re looking at how we can engage individuals but also offer opportunities for companies to inspire their staffand act on their goals for social change. We’re thrilled to have three new partners on the team, Bob Roth, Jimmy Watkins, and Kara McPherson, and are working on a mix of digital and in-person events and community-builders, including an Issue 04 launch party!

How can people help support your mission?

Join our email newsletter and jump into conversations on our social platforms.

We believe change happens when people with different experiences and viewpoints are willing to share and speak honestly with each other. Small, constructive conversations lead to empathy and positive movement all across the world.

We encourage people to speak up and ask questions, even if they’re talking to an audience of one, because you never know how far that conversation will travel.

rippleofchangemag.com facebook.com/rippleofchangemag twitter.com/roc_mag (@ROC_mag) linkedin.com/company/ripple-of-change instagram.com/rippleofchangemag (@rippleofchangemag) youtube.com/@rippleofchange3445 #StartARipple Part of ROC’s grassroots distribution efforts included taking magazines around to local partners. Earnest Ice Cream was an early supporter and continues to help spread the work of ROC.

ROC writer Jenn Wint and Whitney Larson meeting and learning from Race2Dinner Co-Founders Regina Jackson and Saira Rao in 2023.

I t may be surprising that a lot of people are on the fence about climate change, succumbing to the negativity instead of taking action.

By telling positive stories and sharing solutions, we can create a starting point for newcomers in the space and provide encouragement for those striving to make a diﬀ erence.

We spoke with Naman Bajaj, Content Writer and Founder of Not My Problem, about how his platform is sparking meaningful conversations and inspiring folks to engage with the climate space.

What was the “spark” that ﬁ rst inspired you to start creating impact-focused content?

After completing my MBA in 2020, I had a filter in my mind: I wanted to work with startups that were doing something good for people and the planet. However, I had limited knowledge about the impact space, so I decided to talk to people who were building something in this area to learn more.

Of course, founders are busy people, juggling hundreds of different things.

Why would they want to talk to someone like me? What would they get out of this conversation?

So, I decided to start a podcast series where I would interview founders of sustainability and social impact startups, where I recorded, edited, and published videos for free. This gave founders free PR and marketing for their brands, and I got some screen time with them.

I did around 50 episodes and that’s how I learned about this space. Through the solutions that these founders are building, I learned about the problems plaguing the planet and humanity. I thought it was a less overwhelming way to learn about the climate crisis and humanitarian problems that we are dealing with.

I decided to replicate this experience for others. I pivoted from podcasts to written content since I felt that it was easier to publish and distribute. In January 2021, I started building Not My Problem, a platform where I share stories of startups from around the world that are solving problems related to the climate crisis.

What do you consider to be your biggest success? Can you share any stories of the impact your work has had that have surprised you?

I am grateful to have received a flood of beautiful and kind messages in my inbox.

They help me keep going on tough days.

One message, in particular, stands out as my biggest win to date: someone told me that they use the positive and impactful stories I share to initiate climate change conversations within their circle.

Instead of focusing solely on everything that's not going right in the world, they introduce these impactful solutions to people in their group to start a conversation.

People are more receptive when they hear these positive stories. It gives them hope that there are solutions being developed to combat the crisis, and they can become part of these solutions as customers, investors, employees, or cheerleaders.

What are some of the challenges you typically face in creating content or building out your audience?

Most of my content is focused on people who are on the fence about climate change — folks who know things are not going well, but they don’t know where to start.

Since I have been in this space for the past few years, I have these biases and assumptions that come into play when I am writing. One of my biggest challenges is to make my content free of these so that it does not become overwhelming for anyone wanting to make a change.

In the last few months, I have also understood that content distribution is a beast in itself. If your content is not reaching the right audience, it doesn’t matter how good it is, unless you are writing only for yourself. I have doubled down on my distribution in the past six to seven months Not My Problem Inviting newcomers to the climate space through positive stories

and have started seeing some early wins. My LinkedIn followers have grown five times and the newsletter subscribers have quadrupled.

How do you feel having a platform and community help to make the world better?

Our newsletter is read by people from 85 countries. It's amazing to think about the wide reach of our content and the diverse audience it attracts.

One thing I've come to realize is that you never know who is reading your content and how it might be impacting their lives. I receive messages from people who tell me they discovered new brands through my LinkedIn posts, even though I’ve never seen them interacting with my posts directly. It's a powerful reminder of the influence we can have through online platforms.

Are there any upcoming initiatives or projects you'd like to share?

One of the most common requests we receive is to compile a database of the brands whose stories we share. So, we have started putting all of these brands into a Notion board, segregated by countries and categories. Paid subscribers to our newsletter have access to this database. I keep adding 25–50 brands to this database every week.

How can people help support your mission?

I have been fortunate to have amazing connections in my network who share impactful startup stories with me.

This makes my job easier, as I don't have to actively search for them. If you come across any such stories that you want me to share, feel free to send me an email or message me on LinkedIn or Instagram.

If you enjoy newsletters, consider subscribing to our weekly newsletter, Not My Problem. Every Friday, we will send positive climate change stories to your inbox. If you are able to, please consider becoming a paid subscriber to support the time, research, and love that goes into crafting each edition.

notmyproblem.earth twitter.com/namanb90 (@namanb90) linkedin.com/in/namanbajaj1990 substack.com/@notmyproblem Left: Not My Problem’s website. Bottom: How the newsletter has grown since it started in January 2021.

Making the world better is a lifelong commitment.

Every day, individuals and organizations are igniting positive change and improving the world in ways both big and small.

Through concerted eﬀ orts to continually create moments, take steps, and make changes, we advance on our collective journey toward making life better — not just for ourselves but for our family, friends, communities, and eventually, everyone.

There’s no denying that the journey is fraught with challenges.

We may take a wrong turn, encounter delays and setbacks, or even wonder if we’re really making an impact. But the destination is worthwhile, and there’s only one way to reach it: by pressing onward.

The changemakers in this issue of Make The World Better Magazine are taking steps to make the world better and demonstrating what’s possible. They inspire us to keep going. It’s an honour to share their stories, to amplify each other’s impact, and to walk together on this purpose-driven journey.

At Sparx Publishing Group, we started our journey by venturing into uncertainty, but we saw an opportunity that we could not ignore.

Driven to help amplify impact-focused organizations and individuals so their eﬀ orts to help people and planet can thrive, we took a risk and changed course. And, as we progress on our purpose-driven journey, we continue to grow and change to do better.

Sparx’s Journey to Choosing Purpose Our journey began over 10 years ago, and it’s certainly been a long and winding one. We embarked with the spark of an idea to make the world of self-directed investing more accessible for Canadians through a free online resource called Sparx Trading. Creating content for Sparx Trading laid the foundation for Sparx Publishing Group’s growth and was our first content marketing success story.1 Carried by our values of integrity and responsiveness, we soon branched offon a new path, one that takes us deeper into purpose every day.

“We were founded on a premise that we could use content to make a positive impact and that has become even more true today than it was when we started,”

says Hamish Khamisa, Sparx’s Founder and President.

While Sparx was increasingly focusing on impact, 2020 was a significant turning point. Hamish Khamisa honoured his daughter, Anahera, who was stillborn at 35 weeks, with the creation of our in-house event devoted to doing good, Make The World Better Day.2 We’ve always believed that a single spark can ignite a world of change, and the love and hope that Anahera embodied were the sparks that set our mission in motion.

FROM CONTENT MARKETING TO CONTENT TO MAKE THE WORLD BETTER:

Sparx Publishing Group’s Purpose-Driven Journey Amplifying voices that catalyze positive change We were founded on a premise that we could use content to make a positive impact and that has become even more true today than it was when we started.

After that, our journey began in earnest. “Sparx has put in a lot of effort over the years to determine what it means to ‘make the world better’ and how our mission fits into that statement,” says Sonia Lau, Junior Frontend Developer. “We've gone from a generic marketing company to one that takes on projects that focus on our environmental and social responsibility, as well as uplifting other companies that do the same.”

We began dedicating our time to intentional practices, like turning Make The World Better Day into an annual event, launching Make The World Better Magazine, donating to various causes, and offering pro bono work for mission-aligned organizations.

However, it took us time and effort to get to the point where we had clarity from a market perspective on who we could ideally serve and work with. “We now prioritize working with clients who share our core values and are actively contributing to making a positive impact on the world,”

says Aretta Yeung, Marketing Analyst.

“The partnerships and collaborations that we have sought out have led to opportunities to work on projects that align with our mission and reinforce our commitment to purpose-driven initiatives.”

Striving to be stronger members of the purpose-driven community through networking and event participation has also contributed greatly to our journey.

“Attending a variety of mission-aligned events on DEI, sustainability, and other topics allowed me to learn best practices and get inspired by leading individuals and organizations in the purpose-driven space,” says Alexandra Nikitina, Head of Growth. Through this undertaking, we’ve been able to grow in our purpose and meet many mission-aligned contacts.

“While the desire to make the world better has always been at the forefront, Sparx has gone from dreaming to doing,”

says Libby Shabada, Copywriter.

We've gone from a generic marketing company to one that takes on projects that focus on our environmental and social responsibility, as well as uplifting other companies that do the same.

Growing Purpose With a Diverse Team Moving from dreaming to doing wouldn’t be possible without the right team. Our team comes from diverse backgrounds, earning us a CAMSC certification,3 and what unites us is a desire to work hard to drive positive change.

“I feel constantly inspired through the work that we do and the contagious energy our team generates as we create a platform for change,” says Brandon Ashcraft, Marketing Coordinator.

Sparx operates by following a set of clearly defined values, which are communicated throughout the hiring process.

Because of this, we were able to build an enthusiastic and values-aligned team.

“Curiosity and the drive for self-improvement are personal values that I see constantly reflected in our work,” says Nicole Yeh, Graphic Designer. “We are curious about the innovators making a positive change in the world, and we are dedicated to connecting those ideas with an audience.”

While challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic partially rewrote the composition of the Sparx team, the switch to working remotely opened the door to even broader perspectives and hires from outside of the Vancouver area. But the impact went even deeper. “Partially due to going through COVID-19 and remote work, I've learned more about people's struggles with mental health and isolation,” says Ken Yeung, VP of Operations. “I think [being transparent and honest] helps build rapport and respect with team members.”

This has made a positive difference in our workplace culture. As a result, everyone feels encouraged to share their unique perspectives on how to make the world better and to share their input across all areas of our work, from the content we produce to how we conduct our business.

Our perspectives and ideas are diverse, which enhances our problem-solving abilities, yet there’s a common thread uniting us: we see our work as meaningful. That inspires us to give it our all.

“The fact that I get to be a part of the work that amplifies valuable stories makes me want to deliver the best work I can so that our work in sharing these stories may be accessible and impactful to more people,” Elisabeth Choi, Communications Designer, says.

Our diversity is a real strength for the work and space we’re in. Any organization that acts with intentionality can build that space too.

Inspiration Beyond Our Desks The diversity of our personal experiences has led to a flow of purpose-driven ideas, which travel with us into our work. But we also find ways to integrate what we’ve learned at Sparx into our everyday lives.

“I always say that it's important to walk our talk since it's important for me to try to embody what I share or preach to those around me. So, I'm glad that as a team, we always try to learn and live out the purpose-driven values we share to our audience,” says Pauline Macapagal, Communications Specialist.

Together, our team is always learning:

from the stories we amplify and changemakers we work with, from the causes we champion and initiatives we engage with, from our mistakes, and from each other.

“Working at Sparx challenges me to think more about the ways I can create a We are curious about the innovators making a positive change in the world, and we are dedicated to connecting those ideas with an audience.

more positive social impact in my personal life,” says Nicole.

Creating a positive impact in our personal lives takes on a different meaning for everyone. For some, we’ve discovered ways we can make progress on various causes through our everyday actions.

“I'm following more activists on social media, learning and sharing content, buying more locally-made and Indigenous brands — many of which we've featured in our gift-giving guides! — and finding everyday ways to reduce my environmental footprint,” says Libby.

For others, our experiences have caused us to look inward and be mindful of our personal accountability.

“This experience has inspired me to dig deep within myself, prompting me to be more intentional when it comes to aligning my personal choices and decisions with the values that truly resonate with me,” says Aretta.

“I've personally learned and grown as an individual to be kinder, to care more about the world and learn ways to preserve it, and especially to be more active in the activities that help make the world better,” Elisabeth adds.

Ultimately, our work inspires us to take initiative and engage with amplifying impact both at work and at home. As Pauline’s learned, “no matter how big or small, an impact can effect great positive changes that travel far and wide to places and people you wouldn't expect.”

Amplifying Stories of Impact With

Amplifying impact so it travels far and wide is exactly what we seek to do with Make The World Better Magazine, a core Sparx initiative our team was eager to rally behind and learn from.

For Sonia, the Circular Economy issue4 was a real stand out. “It features a lot of the companies where their missions feel familiar and can be easily supported.

For example, I could see myself using EcoMeter to find an eco-friendly restaurant, or getting food from Too Good To Go, or using one of Susgrainable's baking mixes. A lot of these companies provide an approachable way to support their mission that fits pretty seamlessly into your lifestyle.”

As for Hamish, the feature on Sxwpilemaát Siyám/Chief Leanne Joe 5 was profoundly impactful. “As a parent, I felt that centring her perspectives around the implications of her work to future generations resonated deeply and speaks to the ethos of the magazine — to inspire others to leave the world better than how they found it.”

Every participant has been truly inspiring, and we want to see their impact thrive. All of their stories have inspired us to come up with fresh ideas about how we can grow Make The World Better Magazine.

Team members, like Pedram Milani, Web Developer, have been thinking up some new ways to engage audiences around the magazine. “I think a 10–15 second YouTube short/TikTok segment covering companies could be a nice way to highlight companies and bring attention to brands and the magazine,”

he says.

And Pauline imagines another type of digital platform: “It would be really cool to see the magazine available on e-readers.

That way, we're making it more accessible Partially due to going through COVID-19 and remote work, I've learned more about people's struggles with mental health and isolation. I think [being transparent and honest] helps build rapport and respect with team members.

1. Read “What is Sparx Trading? A Content Marketing Success Story,” on the Sparx blog, sparxpg.com/blog 2. Read “Making the World Better: How Small Eﬀ orts Can Spark Big Impact,” on the Sparx blog, sparxpg.com/blog.

3. Read “Sparx’s CAMSC Certification: Gaining National Recognition as a Minority-Owned and -Led Organization,” on the Sparx blog, sparxpg.com/blog.

4. Check out the Circular Economy issue of Make The World Better Magazine at sparxpg.com/make-the-world-better/mag/issue3.

5. Read “Sxwpilemaát Siyám / Chief Leanne Joe: Heartfelt Inclusion,” on the Sparx blog, sparxpg.com/blog.

6. Read, “Make The World Better Magazine is on Patreon!,” on the Sparx blog, sparxpg.com/blog.

[...] and being more environmentally friendly,”

she says.

Other team members are dreaming of collaborations, special editions, follow-ups with past participants, partnerships with institutions, spin-offs centred around different topics, and going global.

“I envision stories and initiatives from around the world featured in the magazine, fostering a sense of interconnectedness and inspiring collaborative efforts to address global challenges,” says Thuan Nguyen, Sparx’s former Financial Analyst.

Team members are also excited about the potential to cover more initiatives and causes.

“I would really love to see more stories about organizations and individuals working to help the homeless and children and families,” says Michelle Baleka, Copywriter. “Making the magazine is a learning experience for me too, and it would be great to know about more organizations and initiatives that are helping [them].”

These hopes are encouraged by the positive responses we’ve received from everyone who’s been featured in the magazine, shown interest, or taken a dive into its purpose-driven pages. Their support has ignited our expansion goals, and we’re taking active steps to reach them with our Make The World Better Magazine Patreon 6 and exciting new partnerships.

Most of all, as Alexandra says, we have hope that the magazine can help “make being better a norm as opposed to a niche.”

Looking Forward to a Brighter Future Speaking of hopes, we have some pretty high ones for Sparx as a whole.

“I'm excited to see how Sparx continues to allow our culture and values [to] blossom through our work and exponentially scale that level of growth through future projects,”

Brandon says.

Individually, we all have different ideas of what this growth would look like and specific areas of impact we want to reach more deeply.

“I would love to see Sparx expand their client base and help a few start-ups become viral,”

Pedram says, while Ken hopes we can “continue expanding our clientele and ideally create a SaaS-like project that we can scale,” and Michelle wants to “work with more circular economy organizations and clients that assist with things like ending homelessness and breaking the cycle of poverty.”

With hopes to grow in Canada’s purpose-driven space through collaborations, sustainable partnerships, raising awareness around and contributing to the adoption of more regenerative solutions, and building up a community of like-minded organizations that help each other out, we’re determined to amplify more voices catalyzing positive change.

“My hope is that through our marketing and communications efforts, we will be able to meaningfully inspire demand for products, services, and business practices that contribute to the long-term well-being for all,” Hamish says.

A Spark of Inspiration Can Change the World The path to a better world is long and challenging, but we’re excited to travel alongside so many amazing changemakers on our journey.

As Hamish says, “The biggest thing that I get excited about is now being fully confident that we're not alone in the work we want to do.”

Our hope is that through our work, readers like you feel inspired to start your own impact journey or feel more energized to continue along your purpose-driven path.

Whatever stage you’re at, if you have a spark of hope to make the world a better place, it will not only serve as a guide for yourself, but a beacon to others to join in your journey.

The biggest thing that I get excited about is now being fully confident that we're not alone in the work we want to do.

sparxpg.com linkedin.com/company/sparx-publishing-group instagram.com/sparxpg twitter.com/SparxPG facebook.com/SparxPG

Amplify your message here Advertise in Make The World Better Magazine On a mission to spark positive change?

We know a great audience for your initiatives.

Catch the attention of like-minded individuals by advertising your purpose-driven organization in an upcoming edition of Make The World Better Magazine.

To advertise, get in touch with us here:

mtwb@sparxpg.com

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Ready to dive into a sustainable Series A investment opportunity Please reach out to us at Cascadia Seaweed manufactures products for a climate-resilient food system by actively involving First Nation communities in regenerative ocean farming.

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RIPPLE OF CHANGE START A RIPPLE Learn how you can start your own ripple of positive change with actionable lists across multiple categories, including activism, education, health, identity, and land, as well as recommended books that will help you take your purpose-driven journey to the next level.

→rippleofchange.wpengine.com/start-a-ripple Ampliﬁ er Resources to Make the World Better Amplify good with these purpose-driven resources Want to amplify your eﬀ orts to do good or become an ampliﬁ er? Perhaps you’re looking to inﬂ uence positive change through social media or a platform you created? Or maybe you want to make a diﬀ erence at your workplace? We know just the thing to help. Check out these resources from changemakers featured in this edition of Make The World Better Magazine.

MORE AMPLIFIER RESOURCES Want even more resources? Sparx has compiled a list of 25+ resources you can use to amplify your eﬀ orts, inﬂ uence impact, or become an amplifier. Visit our blog for the complete list.

→sparxpg.com/blog/25-resources-that-will-amplify-your- eﬀ orts-to-make-the-world-better

DAVID SUZUKI FOUNDATION COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT TOOLKIT Grow your environmental initiatives and personal impact with this dual-language toolkit, filled with ideas for collective and individual action, steps for getting started, and networks, resources, and tools for every step of your journey.

→davidsuzuki.org/science-learning-centre-article/community-engagement-toolkit

SUSTAINABILITY ADVANTAGE MASTER SLIDE DECKS Bob Willard, Founder of Sustainability Advantage, has over 900 slides for subscribers to use and tailor for their purposes, saving them time and resources. Enjoy in-depth content on sustainability in the business community, including frameworks, business cases, and more.

→sustainabilityadvantage.com/slides

INTERSECTIONAL ENVIRONMENTALIST REIMAGINING FOOD JUSTICE AND FOOD SOVEREIGNTY TOOLKIT With this digital toolkit, increase your understanding of food justice and food sovereignty and discover steps for taking action, including ways to amplify community-based initiatives.

→intersectionalenvironmentalist.com/toolkits/reimagining-food-justice-food-sovereignty-toolkit

LOVE FOOD HATE WASTE CANADA TIPS BOARD Promote efforts to eliminate food waste by sharing food-saving tips and stories, or visit the board for actionable recipes and advice to make positive changes in your kitchen.

→lovefoodhatewaste.ca/get-inspired/tips

W W W. H E A L M A R Y. C O M WE’RE PATIENTS AND CAREGIVERS TOO Heal Mary is a free AI driven tool to help patients and their families quickly find available treatments matching their healthcare needs.

We believe in creating equal access to healthcare options and in a patient empowered experience.

Because we’ve been there too.

Find a home for your next big idea.

Learn how going public on the CSE helps entrepreneurs grow their businesses through efficient access to capital and a global community of investors.

Toronto Office Vancouver Office thecse.com 416-572-2000 604-331-1213 100 King Street West, Suite 7210 Toronto, Ontario, MSX 1E1 1095 West Pender Street, Suite 305 Vancouver, British Columbia, V6E 2M6

Where local brands, community advisors and industry experts lift Vancouver-based cause-driven organizations through strategic consultation sessions and skill-based volunteering efforts.

info@brandsforbetter.ca Calling Vancouver brands who want to make an impact.

Community Partnership Program Having help available may be key to their success.

Join a group of purpose-based, progressive brands that are setting out to support not-for-profits and social enterprises in need of a little love.

Your employees can apply their skills to impact causes right here in our city, and activate your company’s mission and purpose on a local level.

Join a team of volunteers from brands across Vancouver who will contribute their professional skills across various spheres and disciplines, to work with recipient organizations to overcome their challenges.

We are now recruiting brand champions, employee engagement leads and social impact team leads across Vancouver brands to take a seat at the table to help strategize on our approach.

If this sounds like you, please reach out!

Are you part of a Vancouver-based brand or organization that offers paid volunteer hours to your staff? Are you looking for more ways for your team to participate? Perhaps skill-based volunteering might improve your participation benchmark!

The not-for-profit and social enterprise landscape has evolved dramatically in recent years and the change continues as new technologies emerge, public interest changes and new services and programs are created for community outreach.

Cause-driven organizations have to be aligned with these shifts to connect with constituents and support their community's needs. This allows them to stay relevant, attract good talent, and continue making an impact with their mission.

These organizations face a highly dynamic landscape of challenges and opportunities throughout their entire life cycle, which can make it difficult to carry out their mission of stewardship and scale projects as needed.

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