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One of Sonoma Ecology Center’s proudest achievements over the past few years is spearheading Sustainable Sonoma, which innovates the way local business and health organizations, nonprofits, labor groups, government agencies and other stakeholders work together in solving Sonoma Valley’s most difficult long-term problems.

That’s why we’re so pleased with the recognition (and grant money) awarded to Sustainable Sonoma last Saturday by Impact100. As a finalist for the Impact100 Sonoma grant, Sustainable Sonoma received $10,000 in support of our efforts to tackle housing, climate resiliency and other issues on the road to sustainability.

And one of our core partners, La Luz Center, received the full $100,000 grant. Congratulations La Luz!

As SEC Research Program Manager Caitlin Cornwall, who is also Sustainable Sonoma’s program director, said after the awards ceremony: “We are grateful for this grant from Impact100, in part because it shows how our community is moving beyond only focusing on individual programs and short-term solutions. Sustainable Sonoma is a long-term solution, a new level of collective impact, acting together across interest group lines.”

Impact100 is one of the most potent philanthropic groups in Sonoma Valley, with a major grant of $100,000, plus several smaller grants, issued each year. Previous grantees include many Sustainable Sonoma partners, among them La Luz Center, Sonoma Valley Teen Services and Sonoma Land Trust.

As for Sustainable Sonoma, it will continue its mission to find a shared vision of the future for all of Sonoma Valley. To that end, a series of listening sessions are being held this summer around the Valley, with the next sessions scheduled for this Thursday, June 14, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Glen Ellen Community Church, and Tuesday, June 19, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church in Kenwood. For more information go to www.sustainablesonoma.net.