Interview by Julia Aguillon
Article by Jackie Velez

Sharmon Lebby, President of Ethical Network of San Antonio is purpose-driven with ethics and sustainability.
Ethical Network of San Antonio is a 5013c non-profit community organization that brings together different ethical and sustainable businesses to provide a community of support with resources to help grow and thrive. ENSA also provides support and education to help the community understand what sustainability is and how it can be incorporated into daily life.
The organization was established in 2017 and has been a nonprofit organization for two years. It was created by Lebby’s friends, Eva Mendez and Rachel Kelley, Executive Director of Revolution Thrift, a local nonprofit organization that donates profits from their thrift store to high impact charities.
“Together, the two of them just wanted to find a community of support and to network with other businesses that were like them,” said Sharmon Lebby, President of Ethical Network San Antonio.
Kelley and Mendez knew that there were other like minded people out there. All they had to do was figure out a way to find them. Kelley and Mendez brought in female local entrepreneurs, Sharmon Lebby, Katie Pruett and Sarah Woolsey to found the Ethical Network of San Antonio.
Each founder was already devoted to sustainability and ethics within their own small businesses. Lebby has a fashion line. Another founder, Katie Pruett, has an ethical and sustainable fashion magazine.
“Everyone had their own specific businesses in this area and we wanted to work with purpose-driven business,” said Lebby.
It’s clear that ENSA’s mission is caring and mindful when it comes to helping their community.
“Being a small business owner is really hard, but being a small business owner when you are thinking about the environment, thinking about people, and labor is extra hard, so we just wanted to be able to provide that community for these businesses,” said Lebby.
One of the biggest community based events that ENSA hosts is the Good Market, which will be in its fifth year on Small Business Saturday on November 27, 2021 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. at Brick at Bluestar Complex. Also, keep an eye out for their fashion show with the Texas Fashion Industry Initiative.(TFII) for Texas Fashion Week.
ENSA recently launched a podcast called “Unpacking Ethical,” so be sure to tune into that.
The Ethical Network of San Antonio is working hard to be the pillar for sustainability and a resource for the community, small businesses, and individuals who would like to live a sustainable lifestyle.
“It’s a lot easier than people think it is,” said Lebby. “You’d be surprised what you’re already doing that is sustainable.”

If you would like to learn more about Ethical Network of San Antonio, please visit: Website: https://www.ethicalnetworksa.org/
Podcast: https://www.ethicalnetworksa.org/podcast
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ethicalnetworksa
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ethicalnetworksa/