Member / Donor Spotlight

Arnold Molder

I was born and raised in Germany and have always seen life as an adventure. In my early years, when the world seemed much larger, I satisfied my sense of curiosity by cycling and hitch hiking around the globe. Eventually, I completed my university studies in economics and settled with my wife from Argentina in Canada. After some experience in financial services, I became a mortgage broker, founded my own company www.tridacmortgages.com and created a mortgage investment fund for private investors. It has become a family business with a future because one of our three sons, Christopher, has joined me as an associate. www.sonofabroker.com

For more than thirty years I have enjoyed the great satisfaction of using my knowledge and experience to help clients better structure their financial environments. Often they have been lured into the debt trap by easy credit and the temptation to buy more material things than they need. With a bit of help and discipline their burdens can be greatly reduced and they can be freed to enjoy the things that really matter. As a symbol of good saving habits, I give my clients colorful clay piggy banks. The piggy's have character and are very popular.

I joined the Global Sufficiency Network because the core message, living within our means, resonates with me. The message is consistent with my company’s role of promoting awareness of individual finances, life balance, the importance of saving and of thoughtfully managing consumption, borrowing/investing, and gifting/donating.

Sylvia Valentine

My photography is a reflection of what my heart connects with. Sylvia means "Maiden of the Woods" and I've always felt connected to Nature, particularly among trees and forests.

I rediscovered my love of photography on an adventure to New Zealand with my husband Paul. We love to travel and experience the richness of other cultures and landscapes. And we love exploring nooks and crannies near home too! Many of my favorite photos are in our own backyard...Carmel, Big Sur, Corralitos and Santa Cruz.

I love capturing the Spirit of a place, often using close angles and light to give a magical, unique perspective. Many of my photos are untouched and natural, just as you would see them in person. They’re a reflection of what my heart connects with in the moment.

All Images Copyright Sylvia Valentine

A portion of all proceeds of my photography www.SylviaValentine.com, benefit humanitarian and environmental projects I work with personally - Pachamama Alliance www.awakeningthedreamer.org and Humanity Unites Brilliance www.givelove.hubhub.org

I love the vision and mission of global sufficiency! It is a powerful and deeply held belief system around "being enough, and having enough" in all areas of our lives...time, money, relationships, sense of self, activism, business, resources, environment, spiritual connection, community, etc. As we shift into that knowing of ENOUGH wholeheartedly, starting with each one of us, transformation in all areas of the world will shift, quickly and easily. It is a profound paradigm shift whose time has come.

Kadessa Blanchard

I am therapist and artist/musician. I was born in Sweden and established in Casamance, Senegal , West Africa where I have built up together with my husband Bakin the Center for Healing and Transformation. When I was very young and started to questioning the world around me I always felt that the world the grown-ups showed me was not the whole truth. The world they showed me was very limited and I had a strong feeling there was something else and much greater behind, that there was more dimensions of the world waiting for me to discover it.

So I started my road in search for it. After 25 years I could I say to my self - I found it ! I was right, there is a fantastic unlimited world full of magic and I could tap in to the greatness of God if only I wanted to and the greatest power of all is the Love. I studied to become a healer and therapist and my wish to find "my place for creating something" took me to Senegal, West Africa where I met my husband as well and where we are realizing a dream of ours, a Center for Healing and Transformation. www.bakinjourney.org.

It is a need for me to be connected worldwide with people who has decided to take responsibility and change their way of looking at life in order to heal the humanity and the earth. The work Global Sufficiency Network is doing is so important as it transforms the root of the problem. It is the only way to heal globally, a shift in consciousness.

Joey Gibson-Gonzalez

Joey Gibson-Gonzalez is a passionate young adult advocate for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender rights, using mediums such as film, radio, music, art and his own voice. Joey is currently a Producer and Director for films in Austin, Texas. Having been bullied and harassed, Joey transformed his past and brought it before the Committee on Public Education at the Texas State Capitol. He lobbied for bills to prevent bullying and harassment and gave speeches to schools. Once Joey graduated from high school, he went on to study film making.

Joey’s first independent film, “La Vida Bella” (www.lavidabellamovie.com), shows the harsh reality that youth are sometimes subjected to. “Now that we have finished the movie, we are working with schools to showcase it to staff and the students,” says Joey. He has also developed a pod cast (Epic Radio), which he and his partner Tara Vaughan co- host.

Joey says, “Global Sufficiency Network is helping benefit not just our world, but our youth. Meeting Marilyn and being a part of the local Austin Global Sufficiency Network Community Group has shown me ways of helping myself and others that hadn’t even occurred to me as possible." Joey is looking forward to creating a Public Service Announcement on the subject of Acceptance for All People. Joey believes that the work that the Global Sufficiency Network is doing to address scarcity thinking will have a big positive impact on youth who are typically harassed and mistreated and he is proud to be a part of that.

Joel Hodroff

Joel Hodroff is an authority on Money Innovation and the use of noncash currencies for commercial and community development applications. He is also the Founder of Minnesota-based DualCurrency Systems. http://www.DualCurrency.com In 2005, he was selected an Innovator of the Year by Minnesota’s Finance and Commerce newspaper.

Joel has been a social entrepreneur for over 25 years, launching Solar Consultants, Inc. in 1983 and DualCurrency Systems in 1993. He is a Founder and former Co-Chair of Responsible Minnesota Business. He urges leaders to advance the Triple Bottom Line in business (people, profits and the planet) and to model healthy balanced lifestyles as well.

Joel says, “I became a Founding Member of Global Sufficiency Network (GSN) because the organization holds a vision of “a world that works for everyone.” The philosophy of sufficiency contends that, by moving beyond the scarcity paradigm, peace and sustainable prosperity are possible now! I appreciate that GSN does not pick sides ― left versus right; small versus large; local versus global ― in bringing sufficiency consciousness to the world.” He adds, “I encourage us to focus more attention on two key economic questions: ‘Why is there enormous underutilized business capacity side by side with vast unmet needs across the planet?’ and ‘How much is enough?’ I also recommend that you become a Founding Member of GSN and get involved in this important conversation.”

AmyLeo Barankovich

AmyLeo Barankovich is a passionate voice for the animals, advocating recognition of their inherent value and beauty, beyond merely their utility to humans. She suggests that while environmentalists, by-and-large, pay attention to saving threatened habitats and species, the plight of billions of abused and exploited animals — brought into the world, solely, for human food, clothing, medical experimentation and entertainment — is below the green radar screen.

AmyLeo appreciates that GSN operates at the cutting edge of the sustainability movement, expanding the conversation to include sufficiency, holistic thinking, inclusivity and win-win economics. Her hope is that the conversation will further expand to also include the plight of animals not living in the wild. The little known film “Ashes and Snow” reflects AmyLeo’s spirituality, as it heartwarmingly depicts a world of peaceful coexistence between species.

In 2004, AmyLeo founded Teaching Compassion, a program for children grades K-3 and early childhood educators. www.teachingcompassionmn.com Ten different classes help children to develop empathy for animals and nature. AmyLeo playfully engages the children using stuffed animals, stories, games, music and movement. She also volunteers as a representative for the Animal Rights Coalition at conferences and events. She is a lead facilitator with the Alternatives to Violence Project. AVP is an international, volunteer-run program, conducting workshops in conflict resolution and non-violence within prisons and communities.

AmyLeo facilitates a dance workshop entitled Dancing Your Own, helping people to discover and liberate their inner dancers. She loves camping, kayaking, vegan cooking, dancing and playing in nature — befriending creatures, great and small. Her mission in life is to inspire peace, compassion and sustainability.