Sheila Kirschenbaum
Sheila Kirschenbaum
Independent Consultant
About Sheila
Sheila Kirschenbaum has been perfecting zero-waste practices even before the term “zero waste” was coined. From a young age, she learned the habit of reusing, repairing, and repurposing, ensuring that little was discarded.
Inspired by a substantial collection of damaged or ill-fitting garments, as well as clothing construction and textile courses offered by San Diego College of Continuing Education, Sheila has dedicated herself to exploring various clothing repair techniques as well as strategies to reuse and repurpose clothing and textiles.
Sheila’s Presentation(s):
Aligning Mission and Market to Build Local Economies
Aligning Mission and Market to Build Local Economies explores how purpose-driven organizations, educators, and creative entrepreneurs can collaborate to strengthen local economies while remaining deeply rooted in mission. This panel brings together perspectives from Goodwill Industries of San Diego County, San Diego College of Continuing Education, a student-turned-entrepreneur, and a local retail operator to discuss how cross-sector collaboration and innovation transform social impact into sustainable economic outcomes. Through real-world examples and lived experience, panelists will highlight how education, creativity, and entrepreneurship can align with market demand to create meaningful workforce pathways, support local businesses, and build resilient communities.