In the wake of a global recession that continues to devastate communities and livelihoods, people are hungry for alternatives to corporate greed and stock market speculation. As we look at challenges such as climate change, unemployment and growing disparities of wealth and ownership, many of us feel discouraged and unsure of how we can make business more accountable to our communities and our visions for more just, sustainable, and resilient economies.

IMS Electronics Recycling has been housed in a Port of Vancouver-owned building since 2007 and is home to an impressive operation that keeps countless tons of toxic and noxious materials from landfills and out of the hands of less conscientious recyclers.

In my role as a financial advisor specializing in socially responsible investing (SRI) I am often asked whether social investments – those screened for such activities as gambling, alcohol, nuclear power, pollution and poor employee conditions – perform as well as conventional ones. In fact, what surprises me is how pervasive the opinion is that SRI investments may be good for society, but not for your wealth.

The recent crisis in the global financial system has contributed to a renewed search for economic alternatives that can better meet people's needs, build wealth and create a more sustainable, resilient communities. Severe unemployment, shuttered businesses, and millions in wealth lost on the stock market have caused quite a bit of soul-searching, especially among socially responsible investors. A host of new buzzwords have emerged in recent years, including green jobs, slow money, local investing, and social entrepreneurship.