More than a Job: Why the Sierra and I are Lucky to Know SBC

I know I’m lucky, and it’s not just because I love what I do. Many people love their job, (and goodness knows, many others – not so much), but my luck goes beyond that. I love not only the work, but what the work means, the impact it has and the implications it makes for the future of this region.

I don’t know that I would be so lucky if I had stayed in my home city of Seattle. There’s just something about these mountains, the communities scattered throughout them, and the people who live, work, and recreate here. It’s hard to put a finger on exactly what it is – passion for the outdoors, bootstrapping mindsets, a culture of innovation – but Sierra Business Council gets it.

If you are even a semi-regular reader of this blog, (new articles weekly!), then you know that for nearly 24 years SBC has been advocating for the Sierra Nevada in both Sacramento and D.C to increase resource funding to the area for wildfire mitigation, forest and water health, community resilience, and more – with great success this year! You know we have supported small businesses throughout the region via our energy efficiency retrofit program, our Sierra Small Business Development Center (1,397 hours in free counseling in 2017), and our efforts to get travelers off the beaten path via our Geotourism project. Our Climate Planning Team supports community vitality through their thorough work on greenhouse gas inventories and climate action plans, cutting local jurisdictions’ energy use as well as their energy bills, plus the Team vets development proposals to make sure they fit the character of a community and encourage not only prosperity, but sustainability.

It’s a huge breadth of work that makes up Sierra Business Council. I understand the variety and overlap can make it tough for our network to put their finger on exactly what SBC does, but I truly believe that breadth is our strength. Through dipping our toes into muddied waters, we have found solutions in building bridges, bringing different interests together in a time when everything seems polarized. We have also gained a broad network of advocates who care about this region for a multitude of reasons. Perhaps you care about the Sierra because you enjoy mountain recreation, maybe it’s because you’re committed to preserving rural communities, or it could just be that you enjoy drinking water in San Francisco. Regardless of why you care about the Sierra, you’ll likely be able to find an SBC program that supports your affinity.

I know I’m lucky. I work for an organization that is doing the work I want to see done in my community, in the mountains I’ve grown to love, (please don’t tell the Cascades). I want you to know that if you care about the Sierra Nevada, you’re lucky too. You’re lucky to have an organization like Sierra Business Council working on behalf of the region you love.

Consider making a donation to SBC as part of your holiday giving today. We simply can’t do the work without your support.