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Networking
Business, government and civil
society find that networking is increasingly a key to success. Visa
corporation, the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, and the UN all owe
their success to effective networking.
A company, governmental institution, or civil society organization may wish
to become part of a larger network, in order to share or acquire information
and learning opportunities, develop and implement joint strategies to
strengthen a particular sector of society or industry, and to grow along
with one’s peers as partners.
The creation of networks is an effective method to raise attention and
integrate new ideas and applications into the mainstream of society. A
good example is the movement for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) from
the periphery of public attention 10-15 years ago to front-page news today
as part of government, business and civil society agendas. The creation of
business networks to educate, promote, and support CSR was a key factor in
this success. CSR is no longer the lofty ideal of a few entrepreneurs, but a
practical business model implemented by companies and government.
GA
WORKS principals have
played an important role in the creation of some of the leading CSR
networks, and have extensive experience ranging from outreach into existing
formal and informal networks to designing and building successful new
networks.
GA
WORKS has particular expertise in bringing people and organizations
together to create national and international networks in which members can
support and learn from each other to take effective action. GA
WORKS
services include assisting clients to identify potential network
members, determine the appropriate organizational structure for effective
network creation, and, if required, provide administrative assistance on an
interim or long-term basis.
For more information, please contact:
Tom Valente, President, GA
WORKS at
941-329-6465
Track Record
EMPRESA
In 1996, GA chair Walter Link joined with Eric Leenson of Progressive
Asset Management and other friends to initiate a business network for CSR
throughout the Americas. Following a successful first conference and a
number of organizing meetings, EMPRESA was created as a network of new and
existing CSR business organizations to help companies throughout the region
to organize CSR networks within their countries. Today EMPRESA is the
leading CSR alliance in the Americas with member organizations in Brazil,
Chile, El Salvador, Panama, Peru and the US. In an active exchange between
organizations, EMPRESA members research best practices for CSR
implementation. More importantly, EMPRESA members are increasingly effective
in impacting both sustainable legislation and business practices.
(More...)
BSR Panama, Peru 2021, and the UN Global Compact
GA
WORKS is advising EMPRESA member organizations such as Business for
Social Responsibility-Panama, Peru 2021 as well as the United Nations on the
development of its GLOBAL COMPACT network, which has found strong support
through EMPRESA members.
Institutional Investing
In 2000, the Global Academy in partnership with Progressive Asset
Management organized a groundbreaking conference for pension funds and other
institutional investors. Bottomline 2000: the Future of Fiduciary
Responsibility attracted US institutions totaling more than $1 trillion in
assets. The conference discussed how to integrate social and environmental
values into large scale investing practices. The Global Academy and its
partners are in the process of building a network of specialists in
institutional investing in the hopes that it will achieve for institutional
investing what the CSR networks have achieved for the corporate sector.
(More...)
Social Venture Network
During the 90’s Walter Link was a founding member and active board chair
of Social Venture Network Europe, a CSR network of business leaders and
social entrepreneurs from both Western and Eastern Europe. They set
themselves the goal of changing how the world does business. To some extent
they succeeded. Strategies that contributed to their success included the
creation of several other networks such the Institute for Social and Ethical
Acccountability, established by Mr. Link’s company as well as the Body Shop,
Ben & Jerry’s, and British Telecom. The institute developed and consulted on
accounting methods that measured the social impact of companies. Another
successful strategy was the SVN CSR Standards Initiative generated by SVN
members from both the US and Europe. Mr. Link chaired the European
initiative. (More...)
West-East Network and Holistic Centers Gathering
Walter Link and Global Academy President Tom Valente were principals in
the development of two important exchange networks between former Eastern
European Block countries and the West. The West-East Network initiated
exchange work and the creation of numerous educational events in the fields
of psychology and consciousness, cultural and peace work, complementary
medicine and environmental sustainability. The CENTER GATHERING was a
network of the leading holistic education institutions from the East and
West who inspired and supported each other’s work. These events were not
only valuable for its participants, but through significant media coverage
brought these issues to broad public attention, especially in Eastern Europe
where people were looking for alternatives to their disintegrating way of
life.
Network for Transformative Education
The Global Academy is currently initiating the creation of a network for
institutions offering transformative education. Transformative education not
only provides valuable information, but also enhances the learner’s capacity
to understand and integrate that information and experience. The network
will include individual faculty, departments of specialized and mainstream
universities, and adult education organizations. A first networking
conference is completed, and a second is in the planning stages. Global
Academy’s intention is that this network will provide a visible and valuable
addition to mainstream education. (More...)
Network for Integrative Medicine
The Global Academy is also investigating the potential of creating an
international network of institutions and practitioners working in
integrative medicine.
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