ABOUT

Mission

Sonoma Valley Collaborative (SVC) is a forum of community leaders from a wide range of sectors across Sonoma Valley, finding solutions and taking action to address our community’s biggest challenges. 

Our mission is to make positive change in Sonoma Valley by aligning the interest groups in the community toward shared goals and measurable targets, and by supporting efforts that achieve those goals. This common agenda aligns our activities and accelerates success in achieving a just, thriving, sustainable community.

SVC is a project of Sonoma Ecology Center, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. SVC’s positions are independently determined by the consensus of its 30+ members.

Vision

Sonoma Valley is a thriving, just, sustainable community, a model for Sonoma County, the state, and the nation.

Core Functions

Build Alignment. We help facilitate diplomacy across key sectors within the community, linking together organizations and leaders to solve complex community problems.

Inform. We develop tools that inform member decisions on new projects, policies, and proposed actions. 

Advocate. We work to build a shared understanding of complex community problems and shift public opinion toward agreed-upon solutions.

Solve Problems. We identify and tackle complex community problems with an explicit value of sustainability, finding solutions that have the greatest buy-in and also promote balance among: environment, economy and equity.

Spur Investment. We identify and link potential investment opportunities with new projects or programs that align with our explicit values and identified solutions.

History

Sonoma Valley Collaborative (formerly Sustainable Sonoma) was conceived by Sonoma Ecology Center to achieve a common agenda for the Valley that most of the community can support. In the early stages, Sonoma Ecology Center led in building the Sonoma Valley Collaborative partnerships, primarily with the Chamber of Commerce and La Luz. Over time, the founding partners have become just a few of the many interests at the table. As Sonoma Valley Collaborative matures, it will take on its own identity—a standalone staff, independent funding—so that it belongs to the whole community, not any particular organization.

Sonoma Valley Collaborative answers needs that were highlighted in the assessments Portrait of Sonoma County and Hidden in Plain Sight. Both studies concluded that if Sonoma Valley wants to see resolution of our persistent challenges, from emergency preparedness to educational attainment, we need an overarching strategy to guide the funding and delivery of direct services. The time is now for a new level of collaboration to address Sonoma Valley’s systemic, interconnected challenges.

Sonoma Valley Collaborative Council

The Sonoma Valley Collaborative Council represents all the interests in the Sonoma Valley community, and identifies areas of shared agreement among those interests. Agreements could include priority issues to work together on, or shared intentions for the future of the community. The learning and trust developed among the Sonoma Valley Collaborative Council should, over time, produce multiple alignments around community needs. These areas of agreement will then produce tangible positive change in the community by creating allies and solutions that involve multiple sectors—solutions that could not have been achieved without aligning diverse interests.

See the roster of Sonoma Valley Collaborative Council members and alternates here.

You will find Sonoma Valley Collaborative Council meeting agendas, minutes and materials here. 

Steering Committee

The Steering Committee governs the operations of Sonoma Valley Collaborative, including directing staff. The Steering Committee is charged with operational oversight, including budget, HR, and driving the strategic planning for growth and success of Sonoma Valley Collaborative. Its members make decisions using practical consensus, promote Sonoma Valley Collaborative, and keep Sonoma Valley Collaborative true to its mission, vision, and values.

Aiko-Sophie Morisette-Ezaki (chair), Community Foundation Sonoma County, Board Member, Impact100 Sonoma Grant, DEI and Next Gen Committees, Sonoma Valley Catalyst Fund Grants Committee, Community Advisory Committee for The Community Hub at Hanna. Interests represented: equity, philanthropy, economy.

Cynthia Scarborough, Advisory Council, Sonoma County Area Agency on Aging. Interests represented: seniors, health, equity.

Kimberly Blattner, City of Sonoma Community Services and Environment Commission member, La Luz Center board chair, Sonoma Valley Fund Grants Committee member, Valley of the Moon Music Festival Board Chair. Interests represented: seniors, health, philanthropy, culture.

Angela Ryan, Sonoma Valley Catalyst Fund, Executive Director. Interests represented: philanthropy, equity.

Tim Zahner, Sonoma Valley Visitors Bureau Executive Director. Interests represented: Economy, tourism.

Richard Dale, Sonoma Ecology Center Executive Director. Interests represented: environment.

Staff

Caitlin Cornwall
Sonoma Valley Collaborative Project Director
caitlin@sonomavalleycollaborative.org

Kim Jones
Sonoma Valley Collaborative Coordinator
kim@sonomavalleycollaborative.org  

Read the full purpose, governance and charter of Sonoma Valley Collaborative here.