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Inordertoaddressthisknowledgegap,theSolidarityNetwork/Jobswith <br />Justice(ESSN/JWJ)andtheUniversityofOregon?sLaborEducationandResearchCenter <br />(LERC)receivedagrantfromtheSociologicalInitiativesFoundationtoconductaseriesof <br />focusgroupsthatwouldexplorecommunitysentimentonsustainablebusinessdevelopment <br />anddeterminethekindsofpracticescommunitymembersbelievearemostessentialtothe <br />promotionofsocialequity. <br />AprincipalgoalofthisprojectistoencouragemoreextensivecitizenparticipationinEugene?s <br />economicdevelopmentdecision-makingprocessandensurethatcommunityconcernsand <br />interestsreceivefullconsideration.Wealsointendtomakeouravailabletoother <br />communitiesandconstituenciesthatarepursuingsustainabledevelopmentstrategiesand <br />grapplingwithsimilarconcernstothosethathavemotivatedthisproject. <br />ConsiderableSupportExistsfortheConceptofSustainableBusinessDevelopment <br />inEugene <br />Wefoundconsiderableawarenessofandsupportfortheconceptofsustainablebusiness <br />development,alongwithadeepsenseofpridethatEugeneisacommunitywithmany <br />businessesalreadycommittedtosustainablepractices.Sustainablebusinessdevelopment?s <br />TripleBottomLineofeconomicenvironmentalprotection,andsocialequity <br />appealedtomembersofallfocusgroupsasamajorcommunitythattheCityofEugene <br />shouldencourageandsupport.Thelong-termperspectiveassociatedwithsustainablebusiness <br />developmentwasalsopraisedbyparticipantsasnecessarytopromotingsocialstabilityand <br />ultimatelysocialsurvival. <br />HealthFlexibleWorkScheduling,LivingWage,andOpportunitiesforCareer <br />AdvancementSeenasMostImportantSocialEquityIndicatorsintheWorkplace <br />Therewasstrongagreementthatinorderforsocialequitytobeachievedintheworkplace,the <br />followingelementsaremostcritical:provisionofaffordable,comprehensivehealthinsurance, <br />workschedulingandallowancefortimeoffthejob,paymentofalivingwage,and <br />opportunitiesforcareerdevelopmentandadvancement.Additionalworkplacesocialequity <br />indicatorsthatwerecitedbyparticipantsasimportantincludedworkthatwassatisfyingand <br />sociallyvalued,apreferenceforfull-timeoverpart-timeemployment,providingadequate <br />retirementandtheassuranceofnon-discrimination,equalopportunity,andrespectfor <br />diversity. <br />StrongBeliefThatSustainableBusinessesShouldExplicitlytheLocalCommunity <br />andtheLocalEconomy <br />Oneofthestrongestthemestoemergefromthefocusgroupdiscussionswastheparticipants? <br />beliefthatsustainablebusinessesshouldexplicitlythelocalcommunityandthelocal <br />economy.Participantsinvirtuallyallgroupsexpressedtheirclearpreferenceforlocalhiring, <br />theuseoflocalsuppliers,andkeepingmoneyinthelocaleconomy.Therewasalsoanabiding <br />beliefthatsustainablebusinessesshouldcultivateworkingpartnershipswithlocalorganizations <br /> <br />