BE Alink is the founder and inventor of the Alinker walking bike, which she refers to as a vehicle of change. BE's reverse design practices / philosophy lead to the Alinker, which is not built for a "body-with-a-problem" but for who we are, active and engaged.

BE is a gender weirdo, and has often been called crazy, all over the place, scattered. People told her to focus, and to comply, but BE does not fit in, just held true to her vision that the world needs something else, for and by us all, no one excluded. BE focuses on who we are, not what we have.

With insane tenacity, commitment and dedication, BE has built her company into a movement of people showing up for each other. Years ago she said: "I dream of a world where the dismissed people of today, are our leaders of tomorrow", that is happening now.

Movement Session: Morning Qi

Hosted by Caroline MacGillivray (Beauty Night Society)

A gentle morning practice that uses breath work & movement and self massage to get your energy flowing and make you feel good!

Coffee Conversation: Scaling Small- From Efficiency to Resilience

Hosted by Usha Devi Venkatachalam (Krisha Janani) & Sarah Fitzgerald (45North)

Industrialization heralded an era of centralization, aggregation, and concentration in the name of efficiency. Technocratic, single-point solutions have disconnected us from our relationship with soil, water, and food. Covid-19 and the year 2020 have exposed the deep environmental, economic, and social flaws in that business model, especially in the agriculture and food sector. Small & growing business (SGBs) advocating for a disaggregated, decentralized, and distributed business models provide an alternative to the exploitative focus on efficiency. The most critical question in reimagining and rebuilding a post-Covid world is this: how can these SGBs scale their business models to nurture resilience? 

What are the challenges facing SGBs that are trying to reshape the scale conversation to focus on resilience? How can short-term profit maximization give way to long-term 'seventh generation' SGBs? How can we make an artisanal, small-batch, local, and seasonal agri & food chain that is accessible to all? What are the operational, infrastructure, and financial challenges in scaling small? How can shared values, infrastructure, and responsibilities help SGBs in turning an entrepreneur's ""hero's journey"" into a community evolution story? 

Who can build an ecosystem, blueprint, or framework for SGBs to scale? Who can become the connector and facilitator of a new business operating system that draws inspiration from nature to build an interconnected and interdependent whole?"

The Case Study model at SVI provides an opportunity for the entire conference to gain powerful and tangible skills to support running a successful social venture. Thriving businesses identify a specific challenge which our panel of experts and conference attendees will help provide insight on.

These fast-paced 60 second presentations allow you to introduce yourself and your enterprise to the gathering. This is your chance to pitch an idea or make that ask. Creativity and passion are encouraged.

Participants can sign up to host a casual, unstructured conversation. Whoever shows up for the conversation are the right people there, and people are welcome to pop in and out.

Rue Mapp is the Founder and CEO of Outdoor Afro, a national not-for-profit organization with offices in Oakland, CA, and Washington, D.C.

Rue oversees a carefully selected and trained national volunteer leadership team of nearly 90 men and women who represent 42 cities around the US, and shares opportunities to build a broader community and leadership in nature. Her important work has generated widespread national recognition and support. Since Outdoor Afro’s inception in 2009 as a blog, Rue has captured the attention and support of millions through a multimedia approach that is grounded in personal connections and community organizing. From its grassroots beginning, Outdoor Afro now enjoys national sponsorship and is recognized by major organizations for its role in addressing the ongoing need for greater diversity in the outdoors.

In 2010, Mapp was invited to the Obama White House to participate in the America’s Great Outdoors Conference, and subsequently to take part in a think-tank to inform the launch of the First Lady’s “Let’s Move” initiative. She was appointed program officer for the Stewardship Council’s Foundation for Youth Investment to oversee its grant-making program from 2010-2012. Since that time, Mapp’s work and op-eds have been featured in publications including The Wall Street Journal, Backpacker Magazine, Seattle Times, Los Angeles Times, Ebony Magazine, Outside Magazine, Sunset Magazine, NPR, and many others. Rue’s work has also been recognized with numerous awards and distinctions, including: The Root 100 as one of the most influential African Americans in the country (2012 and 2016), Outdoor Industry Inspiration Award, National Wildlife Federation Communication award (received alongside President Bill Clinton) and Family Circle Magazine selected Rue as one of America’s 20 Most Influential Moms.

The Case Study model at SVI provides an opportunity for the entire conference to gain powerful and tangible skills to support running a successful social venture. Thriving businesses identify a specific challenge which our panel of experts and conference attendees will help provide insight on.

Get advice on your own challenge and support fellow entrepreneurs in Peer Coaching Circles.

Don't miss this chance to integrate what we've learned and close together in a good way.