2023 SGI Conference

Celebrating 50 Years: The Evolution of Responsible Investing

On September 12, 2023 Seventh Generation Interfaith Coalition for Responsible Investment (SGI-CRI) hosted its annual conference at St. Francis of Assisi Parish, located at 1937 N. Vel R. Phillips Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53212.

We gathered around the theme of Celebrating 50 Years: The Evolution of Responsible Investing. There are many diverse ESG investing and socially responsible investing practices. Within SGI we have faith-based members, asset managers, and advisors, all sharing a focus on the practice of responsible investing. Amid growing challenges from those who oppose these practices, we remain committed to our mission:

Through the lens of faith and the promotion of human rights, Seventh Generation Interfaith Coalition for Responsible Investment builds a more just and sustainable world for those most vulnerable by integrating social and environmental values into corporate and investor actions

The practice of SRI has evolved from the time when Fr. Mike Crosby, O.F.M., Cap. invited our first members to join him a half-century ago, and, assuredly, those practices will continue to evolve. 

The event began with a panel of SGI members reflecting on SGI’s history, followed by a keynote by Corporate Responsibility leader, Tim Smith, and a second panel of ESG minded investors who discussed the evolution and future of responsible and sustainable investing.

The first panel included: Sr. Brigid Clingman, O.P. (Dominican Sisters ~ Grand Rapids), Tim Dewane (School Sisters of Notre Dame, Central Pacific Province), Sr. Barbara Jennings, C.S.J. (Sisters of St Joseph of Carondelet), and Dan Tretow (School Sisters of St. Francis).

The second panel included: William Burckart (CEO, The Investor Integration Project), Rev. Kirsten Snow Spalding (Vice President, Investor Network, Ceres), and Josh Zinner (CEO, Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility).

We thank our sponsors for their generous financial support enabling us to continue our work. Our Board of Directors merit special thanks for their guidance and commitment to our mission. Congratulations to Dan Tretow, who received the Fr. Mike Crosby Award.

A full video of the conference can be found here. The event program can be found here.

To see the 2022 conference, please visit here.

To see the 2021 conference, please visit here.

To see the 2020 conference, please visit here.

To see the 2019 conference, please visit here.

To see the 2018 conference, please visit here.