Doughnut Awards Kick-Off Event!

Join us for an interactive community gathering on a beautiful organic u pick em farm to officially kick off the Bay Area Doughnut Awards (an official Global Donut Days event)!

​Whether you are a current nominee, want to nominate a local leader/business/nonprofit/government, or just want to build community and learn more about regenerative futures, this gathering is for you.

​🍩 What is Doughnut Economics?

​To understand the intention and vision behind these awards, you first need to know the "Doughnut." Conceived by economist Kate Raworth in 2012, Doughnut Economics is a framework that visualizes and organizes ideas for achieving sustainable development. It combines ideas about achieving social well-being for all humans while respecting the planet's ecological limits.

​The framework consists of two concentric rings:

• ​The Social Foundation (The Inner Ring): Based on the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), this ring represents the basic life essentials everyone needs to live healthy and satisfying lives. These essentials include necessities like water, food, health, housing, and a political voice. Falling below this means people are experiencing shortfalls and critical human deprivation.
• ​The Ecological Ceiling (The Outer Ring): Based on the Stockholm Resilience Centre's nine planetary boundaries, this ring represents the environmental limits we must not exceed. These boundaries include threats such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and air pollution. Overshooting this ceiling risks destabilizing the earth systems which humans rely on.
• ​The Sweet Spot: Between the social foundation and the ecological ceiling lies the "safe and just space for humanity". This is where all life can thrive.

​🏆 The Vision of the Doughnut Awards

​Currently, no country is operating within the Doughnut’s safe and just space, where basic needs are met without environmental pressures exceeding planetary boundaries. To measure our local progress, the California Doughnut Economics Report 2025 was created to assess the state's performance using around 100 social and ecological indicators chosen from government agencies, NGO reports, and peer-reviewed academic papers.

​The Doughnut Awards are designed to recognize the grassroots leaders, regenerative organizations, indigenous stewards, and public agencies actively working to bring our bioregion into that safe and just space across these specific social and ecological indicators.

​🌱 What to Expect at the Farm

​Hosted by Cultivating Self (www.cultivatingself.org) an organization bridging healthcare, social justice, and ecological regeneration; this kick-off will be an afternoon of deep connection.

​During the event, you will:

• ​Connect with Nominees: Meet the incredible local change-makers already nominated for their work.
• ​Nominate Local Leaders: Submit live nominations for people and organizations you believe deserve recognition.
• ​Invite More Nominees: Help us expand the network by reaching out to frontline community members doing vital work.
• ​Donate to projects and candidates you align with
• ​Build Community: Share food, collaborate, and foster deep cross-sector connections on an organic farm.

​🔗 Explore Further

• ​Learn about the movement: Visit the Doughnut Economics Action Lab (DEAL) at doughnuteconomics.org.
• ​Read the Data: Explore the California Doughnut Economics Report 2025 to see the indicators measuring our state's social foundation and ecological ceiling.
• ​Discover the Host: Learn more about how healthcare connects to ecosystem resilience at Cultivating Self.

​RSVP today, bring a neighbor, and let's build an economy where people and the planet thrive together!