On Tuesday in the Bay area the Well Network hosted a reception for the release of the Fort Baker Leadership Summits’ Initiative for a Sustainable California.  Composed of forty leaders from business, academia, philanthropy, government, and nonprofit organizations, the Fort Baker participants (named for the national park where the summits were held) distilled many ideas about improving our systems of governance into specific recommendations for a new approach, one based on a Sustainable California.

The reception singled the start of an effort led by the Well Network to establish an alliance representing business, environmental, social equity leaders, and public officials to develop and advance a Sustainability Agenda for the future of California.  The ultimate goal of the effort is to implement a statewide Sustainability Agenda in each region of California.

The concept of sustainability, balancing the economic, environmental, and social equity components of our communities, requires an integrated approach to planning and management within our state’s decision making structure.

Our governance structure and it’s attendant processes isolate legislative actions without regard for the resultant effects the action may have on other segments of our communities.  This lack of integrated thinking creates fragmentation and unnecessary complexity that frustrates the very purpose of wise decision making at all levels.  The notion of a sustainable future for our state holds real promise for transforming the way we conduct our governing process, and thereby elevate the opportunity for broader prosperity for all.