In challenging times, it is nice to hear some positive stories of companies that are doing well by doing good.  Our colleague fund, Investeco, recently reported that EnerWorks, a holding in their Second Private Equity Fund, is building substantial momentum. EnerWorks develops and manufactures proprietary renewable energy appliances for residential, commercial and industrial markets. In the residential market, EnerWorks’s solar water heating appliances are fully certified, ENERGY STAR® qualified, and the only system meeting CSA international standards. They complement existing water-heating systems and provide users with clean energy and a real reduction in energy costs. In the commercial and industrial markets, EnerWorks is at the forefront of integrated solar thermal solutions, working with local partners to design, install, commission and maintain solar thermal heating and cooling systems.

Anticipating a pending visit from new US President Barack Obama, "What Obama Can Learn On His Trip To Canada Today" delineates three areas where Canada is a leader--banking, healthcare and foreign worker immigration policy. 

Renewal investee Jason Mogus of Communicopia was the focus of a recent article on Charity Village.

With over ten years of expertise in strategic planning, facilitation and capacity building for environmental and social change issues, Hollyhock Leadership Institute is  available to support organizations with collaborative projects, coalition-building and campaign development.

The current state of the capital markets and the U.S. financial system have left many investors paralyzed in fear, but this community, like us at Renewal, is choosing hope over fear.  Hope that these times will inspire us to invest smarter and with a broader purpose than just having money make more money.

Ocean Robbins, founder and director of YES! and 2008 recipient of the Jefferson Award for outstanding public service, went to the Obama inauguration and made a 10 minute film profiling the voices of young leaders.

The Walter and Duncan Gordon Foundation is pleased to announce the fifth call for applications for its Water Policy Fellowships.  Through the Fellowship program, the Foundation seeks to support emerging leadership, and promote better links between research and Canadian public policy by enabling partnerships between young researchers and non-governmental organization (NGO) mentors to address water policy issues.

We are excited about the upcoming Social Change Institute (SCI)  at Hollyhock, May 27- 31, 2009.

A great resource for non-profits is now available in Canada.  TechSoup Canada provides nonprofits, charities, and libraries inexpensive access to technology through product donations, learning resources--and community.

Over the coming three months the Renewal2 team will be traveling to meet with prospective investors in advance of our fund’s first closing – targeted for March 31, 2009.

We welcome your suggestions and referrals of people to connect with in the cities we will be visiting:

• San Francisco/Bay Area – Feb 9-11 and twice in March
• Los Angeles – Feb 12
• New York – Feb 17-19
• Nashville and Chattanooga – March 4-10
• Calgary, Ottawa, Seattle, Toronto - various dates.