Holly Harlan, Civic Entrepreneur

Submitted by Ed Morrison on Thu, 07/14/2005 - 20:53.

With all the recent developments, I missed mentioning a major new award for civic entrepreneurship in Northeast Ohio. Here's the press release that Case issued.

E4S Founder, Holly Harlan, Receives First SBC/REI Civic Entrepreneurship Award

The Center for Regional Economic Issues (REI) at Case Western Reserve University awarded the SBC Civic Entrepreneur Award to Holly Harlan, founder of Entrepreneurs for Sustainability (E4S), today during its regional meeting at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Cleveland.

Ms. Harlan is the first recipient of the award which recognizes exemplary civic entrepreneurs in Northeast Ohio. Its unique terms obligate her to select the next recipient thereby "passing the award forward". She received a sculpture and a citation noting that her work with E4S represents the best example of the changes now transforming Northeast Ohio’s regional economy and raises awareness of the vital role sustainability will play in defining the region’s future prosperity.

"Holly’s understanding of civic entrepreneurship -- what it takes to be a good civic entrepreneur -- creates the model for others to follow. Civic entrepreneurs like Holly are helping show us the way to a new economy here in Northeast Ohio,� the citation stated. "In the past, we have lost some of our best civic entrepreneurs to other places, as they have moved away. We have waited too long to recognize their contribution to our communities and Northeast Ohio. We hope that this award communicates to Holly how much we value her work and her leadership."

The citation to Harlan defines her duties in setting the award’s tradition by passing it forward to a civic entrepreneur that, in her judgment, represents the best qualities of civic entrepreneurship in Northeast Ohio. She has six months to select the next recipient then she may make the presentation in her own way, however she must charge the next recipient with the same obligation to “pass it on' in six months� time.

REI@Weatherhead is an institute in the domain of Business as an Agent of World Benefit. It produces transformational ideas and outstanding leaders for regional economic development.

REI commissioned the creation of the sculpture awarded to Harlan from Matthew Hollern, Dean of Craft Environment, Cleveland Institute of Art. Hollern used the dynamic creativity of the Peter B. Lewis Building as inspiration for his sculpture. He is designing pins for all future award recipients. The award is named after the SBC Foundation which has provided financial support to REI.

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Kudos to Holly

I would emphatically announce my deep respect for Ms. Holly Harlan of Entrepreneurs for Sustainability.  She runs such a great outfit with help from stalwart starlets and great friends Courtney DeOreo (who also runs Cleveland's illustrious City Club, and Stephanie Strong, a lovely lady and tough cookie who recently shared with me such collaborative spirit and genuity day before yesterday at veggie-fare mecca Cafe Limbo.   I've got to sing their praises a bit as they've done such great work along sustainability lines for our region - NEO!

I feel honored to connect with Holly Harlan and David Beech of EcoCity (now merging with our illustrious Museum of Natural History) many moons and years ago in 2003.  Together the three of us first pieced together a vision for mapping all our wonderful nonprofits and sustainability-related organizations using an innovative tool called `the Brain map'.

It feels good to be considered aa 'sustainability thought leader' and see some of my strategies being now seriously debated in Congress.  Such a reward reaches far beyond anything monetary.  Check out the new Energy Bill which has been gallantly proliferated and backed by our own Congressman Dennis Kucinich, whom i'll be meeting with soon to share some of many ideas we can apply to our own outstanding region of NEO.  I hope he can help us support our Ingenuity Festival as well as great efforts to transform East Cleveland sustainably.

Peace!

who did Holly pass it to?

In the spirit of this week's PD's series "what ever happened to___?"

"The citation to Harlan defines her duties in setting the award's tradition by passing it forward to a civic entrepreneur that, in her judgment, represents the best qualities of civic entrepreneurship in Northeast Ohio. She has six months to select the next recipient then she may make the presentation in her own way, however she must charge the next recipient with the same obligation to "pass it on in six month's time.""

So... does anyone know if Holly held up her end and who got the SBC award from her?