~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sister Mary Eileen Boyle
Esperanza Threads

The Nominator: Sue Blouch, Engaging Consulting and Training

How has the nominee implemented sustainable business practices in his or her business or organization and what are the triple bottom line benefits (people, planet, prosperity) of the nominee`s work?
I believe this nomination could be for Sister Mary Eileen or for Esperanza Threads (ET), as both are part of Cleveland`s best kept green secrets. ET is a fair-wage, democratically operated shop employing low-income individuals, primarily women, manufacturing natural organic cotton clothing here in Bedford, Ohio. Esperanza Threads strives to promote health and sustainability of the earth, its resources, and its creatures. To encourage conservation, ET produces comfortable, simple, timeless styles, which are sold off a website, esperanzathreads.com.

How has the nominee inspired you to implement sustainable business practices?
For the months of November and December, find Sister Mary Eileen at the "Fair Trade Fairs" http://www.esperanzathreads.com/calendar.htm. Until 2001, Esperanza Threads was a project of the Grassroots Coalition for Economic and Environmental Justice whose mission is to provide sewing training in good-quality, green-collar jobs for women with barriers to employment. In 2005, ET partnered with Mujer y Comunidad, Women and Community, a cooperative in Zargosa, El Salvador, and sells clothing and accessories from these and other simpatico organizations. Depending on availability of funds and time, ET has booths at sustainability events such as Bioneers. A visit to esperanzathreads.com will direct those interested to businesses that share this vision, including: 333 Connect, Arbonne International, Balanced Living Magazine LLC, Buyers Index Fleece HQ, Resource Directory, Good Nature - Organic Lawn Care, Green People Search Fashion, ShoppingTarget.com, Taraluna.com, Travelorganic.com LLC

How can someone else translate the success of the nominee? Is the work of the nominee an example or model that others can follow?
This non-profit business "walks the sustainability talk" in humble, but astonishing ways. First, they give new meaning to "green-collar jobs". Sister Mary Eileen actively recruits where jobs are most needed, eg. pre-release from prisons. These workers are empowered with commercial sewing training on organic products, given the opportunity to build a career, increase sustainability and protect the environment. ET pays fair wages and benefits to support the families. Second, selling the clothes at markets (Shaker Square), street fairs (Hessler Street), Art Festivals and churches explains and teaches one customer at a time, why organic cotton is important. Thirdly, I personally have learned that conventional cotton is the second most heavily sprayed crop in the world [coffee is the first]. So, a quarter to a half pound of pesticides are sprayed on an average size T-shirt. The residue of chemicals and effects of the spraying on people and the environment are the issues. When the chloride compounds in pesticides are airborne, they become dioxins, which are carcinogens - cancer causing agents. Plus, chlorine is a known hormone-disrupter linked to breast and prostate cancer. I`ve changed from being a die-hard wearer of cotton clothing to a dye-hard avoider, and although unemployed, I pay the extra for the quality and durability of organic cotton.

How does the nominee actively participate in the sustainability community? How do they collaborate and share their knowledge with others?
Create a business using a value-based model and have faith! More information can be found on the website http://www.esperanzathreads.com/faq.htm.