About Good Work

Our Goals

  1. Grow a vibrant network of resilient community entrepreneurs from all walks of life
  2. Collaborate with others to improve services, policies, and community leadership that support community entrepreneurs 

Our Values and Organizing Principles

  • Education and lifelong learning
  • Resilience
  • Self-reliance
  • Economic literacy
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Meaningful work and good jobs
  • Quality goods and services
  • Stewardship and sustainability 
  • Servant leadership
  • Beloved community

20 topics, themes, activities, strategies, and avenues we want encourage, strengthen, and amplify

1::  entrepreneurs from all walks of life

2::  community enterprises and cooperatives

3::  community-based organizations (CBOs) & community development corporations (CDCs)

4::  sustainable business, social enterprise, & fourth sector enterprise

5::  entrepreneurship development systems, entrepreneurship networks, & economic gardening

6::  self-reliance & self-care skill building

7::  mentoring, community, sharing, collaboration, cooperation, mutual assistance, & peer support

8::  indigenous leadership, local knowledge, grassroots organizing, & community-led development

9::  revitalizing the commons (enjoying and supporting our public libraries, public parks, etc)

10::  access to markets, resources, & culturally appropriate assistance

11::  responsible lending & community development financial institutions (CDFIs)

12::  socially responsible, community, & impact investing

13::  sustainable local & regional food systems (with farmers markets, community supported agriculture, urban farms, food forests, & edible landscapes)

14::  reuse economy

15::  community support for re-entry, restorative justice, & the formerly incarcerated 

16::  immigrant & refugee friendly communities & comprehensive immigration reform

17::  renewable energy

18::  sustainable & affordable housing

19::  community land trusts

20::  natural medicine, self-care, alternative & complementary therapies, & wellness practices

Membership

Good Work is a member of:

NC Entrepreneurship and Innovation Alliance

NC Center for Nonprofits

NC Fourth Sector Cluster Initiative

NC Assets Alliance

NC Coalition for Responsible Lending

NC Second Chance Alliance

Carolina Farm Stewardship Association 

Association for Enterprise Opportunity (our national leadership association & a member of the American Sustainable Business Council)