Day 267 – Most of us are familiar with incubator space. It is generally defined as industrial space or office space that is set aside in a building for various forms of business start-up or entrepreneurial projects. Companies like Reddit, Dropbox, and AirBNB all started all got their start in incubators.
Now take that same concept of the incubator, but instead of startup companies working together in hopes of hitting it big, you have numerous environmental nonprofits working together to better the planet. That’s exactly what is happening at The Alliance Center in Denver, Colorado.
So what happens at the Alliance Center?
Regenerative Recovery Coalition
Regenerative Recovery Coalition is a collaboration of nonprofits, businesses, academic institutions, government agencies and individuals boldly working together to rebuild Colorado with a regenerative future in mind—a future with a robust local economy that meets human needs abundantly and equitably provides clean air, water, food and energy to all.
Living Lab program pilots innovative sustainability solutions using The Alliance Center building as a demonstration site. They operate their building at the highest levels of performance for their occupants and the environment.
Sustainability Skills Initiative
Focusing on the holistic model of sustainability, they are building a pipeline of employment for communities who have traditionally been left out of the environmental movement. They ensure their Sustainability Skills Initiative participants develop professional skillsets which will help them stand out and succeed in the sustainability field. This is accomplished through hands-on projects and engaging participants in real world work at The Alliance Center and the greater Colorado environmental community.
Best for Colorado program serves as the hub for corporate social responsibility for businesses throughout the state. It allows companies to network with other mission-driven businesses, share their sustainability journey and help craft the new economy. The program allows businesses to improve practices, connect with participating companies and receive free resources.
The Alliance Center is convening our vast network to enable all Coloradans to fight climate change, strengthen democracy, advance equity, build Colorado forward and create a regenerative economy.
The Hard to Recycle Station is an Alliance community resource that diverts hard-to-recycle items from the landfill. They take many common waste items that aren’t accepted by standard municipal recycling systems. Then they send them to companies and partners who prevent them from going to the landfill.
One of these resources in a community would be very beneficial. However, to have all of these organizations in one building is exceptional. The Alliance Center has created a blueprint in which all cities across the country need to follow to build their own network of sustainable and equitable practices. Colorado has shown us it is possible.
Tomorrow, the importance of cart tags.
365 Ways to Save the Planet 