THE JOY OF BEING AN UNCLE:
An Interview With Steve Weinberg 

RETURN TO 
​THE CIRCLE OF AUNTS AND UNCLES
Today, the word sustainability is embedded in the popular lexicon—from our napkins and dish soap to an environmental stewardship program touted by Goldman Sachs. It is no longer a “goofy word,” says Steve Weinberg, a member of The Circle of Aunts and Uncles. It was once, he notes, “a little far out. Now it’s so mainstream and, with that, comes great opportunity. We have seen an evolution of people doing sustainability work all over the world. But, at the same time, there is the risk of co-optation by bigger companies. For us, we don’t want to lose the local element.” ​

"Uncle" Steve on Mentoring "Nephew" Pete of Philly Bread


“The Circle is looking at our mission as providing social capital as much as financial.  Our entrepreneurs can benefit by having mentors and advisors with good experience, and sometimes we can connect our entrepreneurs to others who have had success and greater experience in the same field.  Pete Merzbacher of Philly Bread and I have been talking pretty regularly every one or two months.  Often Pete downloads to me what’s been going well and what challenges he faces.  These can be simple things like looking at product mix or quality.  They can be bigger like longer term strategic planning – questions any entrepreneur could benefit from, like what does your company look like in 5 to 10 years?  And I ask questions that will help Pete find clarity.  Sometimes I reflect back themes that I hear which may help Pete prioritize.  He works very hard with long hours and the company is still young.  He gets to have me and others who are pulling for him, who aren’t asking to be paid, and who sincerely enjoy being of service.  As an Aunt or Uncle might be!”
Steve is one of the Circle’s 35 Aunts and Uncles who provide low-interest loans to existing business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs, as well as counsel for those seeking to start businesses. These goals are what drew Steve to become an Uncle. “It’s not just about the money,” Steve relayed over the phone on a late summer day. “We’re supporting people as an Aunt or an Uncle, not as a banker. Business is also about relationships.” 

Steve’s foray into the sustainability movement began with The Natural Step ideology (founded in Sweden in 1989) when he was still living in New York. Years later, he moved to Philadelphia, hoping to continue his sustainability work and to find and build community. It was not long before he was introduced to Judy Wicks, visionary behind The Circle of Aunts and Uncles. In a consumer market dominated by large chain corporations that boast lower prices, convenience and jobs, though not necessarily well paying jobs, what is the incentive for consumers to shop locally? Not only do chain stores ultimately extract money from the local sector, but a dollar spent at a locally-owned business yields economic benefits two to four times greater in terms of local income, jobs, wealth, and tax revenue than the same dollar spent in a nationally or globally owned business. 

But just as important, Steve maintains, is the joyous, collaborative spirit that arises when a community comes to together to support its local enterprises. “Judy is a fun and inspiring person and brings so much joy to everything,” Steve enthused. “We care about justice, culture, beauty, and meeting people from all walks of life.” The Circle’s larger aim, he reports, is to create a robust, resilient local economy in a city with the highest poverty rate among the top ten largest cities in the U.S. “We hope to inspire other people and communities to jump in and run with this model.” 
– Natalie Peart (Natalie Peart is a freelance writing exploring new economic ideas. She lives in Brooklyn, New York)
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HANIFAH SAMAD'S STORY

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