About Us

Sustainable Bainbridge

Sustainable Bainbridge supports a variety of programs, as well as participating with partner organizations that work to create a sustainable community on our island.

Our success depends on the active participation of caring people like you! Please contact us with ideas and suggestions of projects you are interested in leading.

Vision

Sustainable Bainbridge envisions a future where Bainbridge Island, through purposeful choices, enables a positive, healthy, joyful, equitable and resilient community, thus enabling long-term community and environmental sustainability.

Mission

Sustainable Bainbridge works to build cooperation and collaboration among a broad-based local network of organizations, businesses, government and individuals to protect and strengthen our community's environmental, social and economic sustainability for current and future generations.

Our Goals:

• To serve as an organization that incubates and supports projects and programs committed to a strong, healthy and resilient Island community.
• To increase awareness and understanding and inform the discussion among individuals, organizations, businesses and local government of opportunities to increase community sustainability.
• To support projects and programs that enable Bainbridge Island to understand and adapt to climate change and work to lead us toward becoming a climate-resilient community.
• To work to protect the finite and fragile environment of our island and its surrounding shoreline and waterways.
• To help community members achieve a smaller footprint.
• To foster a local living economy that works for the benefit of all Islanders.
• To develop leadership within our community with the passion and skills to guide Bainbridge Island toward a sustainable future.
• To grow and maintain communications and media that build community, reflect sustainability values, and promote events in support of our vision and mission.

Pluralism Policy

To realize Sustainable Bainbridge’s mission to build cooperation and collaboration among a broad-based local network of organizations, businesses, government and individuals to protect and strengthen our community’s environmental, social and economic sustainability for current and future generations, we affirm our commitment to justice, equity, diversity and inclusion in our organizational structure and function.

Sustainable Bainbridge recognizes that sustainability rests on the three legs of social, economic, and ecological-wellbeing, and that principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion are fundamental to this framework. Sustainable solutions require the broadest, most inclusive coalition of voices and perspectives. To this end, we welcome, encourage, and actively seek connection and collaboration with all members of our community across a
diversity of ages, incomes, races, ethnicities and abilities.

We also recognize that systemic racism, sexism, oppression of Indigenous cultures, and extractive relationships with ecosystems have caused profound historic and ongoing impacts on community sustainability, disproportionately harming these populations and creating barriers to sustainability.  Sustainable Bainbridge is committed to working against these systemic injustices in pursuit of a community that is truly inclusive and sustainable.

History

In 2005, a diverse group of organizers sponsored a series of three brown bag lunches at Bainbridge Island’s City Hall in order to identify the sustainability needs, interests and concerns of the community.  In July 2006, Sustainable Bainbridge was formed as a Washington nonprofit corporation.

In January 2007, the Sustainable Bainbridge Board met to make plans for the coming year.  The first campaign, Saving Energy Together, made a debut on Earth Day in April of that year.  Other activities included a talk by Jason McLennan of the Green Building Council about sustainability in design and "living buildings" and the successful organization of a major recycling event for electronic equipment.

Throughout 2007, the number of subscribers to the Sustainable Bainbridge e-newsletter grew from a handful to many hundreds. The Sustainable First Monday program was established to provide an opportunity each month for community learning and conversation around a sustainability topic. With no paid staff and minimal expenses, activities were organized and communicated by a hard-working, hands-on, all-volunteer board of directors. In November 2007, Sustainable Bainbridge gained IRS approval as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Shortly thereafter, the Sound Food website was launched with an interactive map of sources of local food on and around Bainbridge Island.

Since then, Sustainable Bainbridge has worked to incubate or incorporate a number of initiatives and projects including these former ones -- Sustainable Business Network, Positive Energy, Matinees That Matter, Green Drinks, West Sound Time Bank, Go! Bainbridge, Bainbridge Community Broadcasting, Student Conservation Corps, Let's Pull Together, and Bainbridge Prepares -- to the current array listed on our home page.