Archive: Around Town

What if every high school introductory business course began with a lesson about sustainability -- the triple bottom line that goes beyond typical measures of profit to include benefits to the environment and social sector?

Last Spring, a dozen students at New Roots Charter School created business plans to develop their own entrepreneurial ideas addressing social, environmental and financial profitability.  They learned sustainability concepts such as the triple bottom line, then researched their own plans, practicing basic budgeting, marketing and presentation skills.

Each week the students visited businesses in the school's downtown Ithaca neighborhood. Their teacher, local farmer and permaculture instructor, Michael Burns explained, "We are lucky to be in the middle of a city full of innovative, progressive small businesses."

Within walking distance from the school, students visited several supportive business owners including: Home Green Home, Boxy Bikes, Bramble, The Meat Locker, BiciCocina, Alternatives Federal Credit Union and the new ReUse Center (still under construction).  Business owners shared their ideas; including how they designed their enterprises to support ecological and social sustainability.



Students also presented their ideas to local entrepreneurs. Three plans were presented to financial advisors at Alternatives Federal Credit Union: Antonio Triana's cooperatively-owned, environmentally-sound golf education center and driving range; Ella Bard's heritage variety popcorn business; and Katrina Twardokus' eco-friendly pet grooming service. Student's business plans also included a farm photography and promotion service, a lo mein noodle food truck, a café featuring live birds, a plus-sized recycled fabric and dress shop, and an artisanal tapestry shop.

"Sustainability provides a business with a competitive edge while creating a positive impact on our community and region," said Tina Nilsen-Hodges, Principal.  "At New Roots we give students the competitive advantage of learning to think like a sustainable entrepreneur, which helps them to develop great ideas and turn them into a reality."

v11i28