Fifth Element Framework

Most business plans were built for a world you’re trying to dismantle. They prioritize extraction, externalize harm, and assume that low wages, burnout, and environmental damage are simply “the cost of doing business.” If you’re building a food enterprise rooted in justice — one that honors workers, land, culture, and community — you already know the traditional business plan model cannot hold your vision. The Regenerative Culinary Business Plan: Fifth Element Framework  is t

A business plan is a structured document that explains what your business does, who it serves, how it operates, and how it intends to remain financially viable. When people search for how to write a business plan or small business plan, they’re usually looking for a roadmap that helps them: Define their business model Understand their market Clarify their offerings Plan their operations Forecast their financial needs Make strategic decisions A traditional business plan is bui

At Fifth Element, we often say that justice is not abstract — it is lived through repair. Reparations are not a distant policy debate or a symbolic gesture. They are a structural commitment to redistribute resources and acknowledge the harms that have shaped our communities. We believe the time to act is now. Waiting for perfect conditions or national consensus only delays repair and perpetuates inequity. Communities harmed by systemic racism, colonization, and climate colla

At Fifth Element, we don’t just teach regenerative business—we build it on the shoulders of liberatory giants. Our methodology is deeply influenced by scholars, organizers, and storytellers who have redefined what it means to lead, relate, and repair. This post honors five foundational thinkers whose work shapes our curriculum, our coaching, and our commitments. bell hooks: Love as a Political Act bell hooks taught us that love is a verb—a practice of justice, care, and accou

On Monday, March 2, 2026, the Fifth Element Book Club will gather virtually to explore Bessel van der Kolk’s The Body Keeps the Score . This groundbreaking work examines how trauma reshapes both the body and mind, and how pathways to healing can be cultivated through awareness, connection, and practice. Understanding Trauma and Its Impact Trauma doesn't just affect our emotional well-being; it has profound physical effects too. Van der Kolk explains how trauma can lead to alt

At Fifth Element, we believe that crediting the sources of our inspiration is not optional — it is a practice of accountability. Our work is shaped by the wisdom of those who have carried histories of resilience and repair, and we name them because our commitments are not abstract. They are rooted in place, in people, and in lived experience. One of the talks that has deeply influenced our vision is “Introduction to the Maine-Wabanaki” by gkisedtanamoogk . In this talk, he sp

The launch of the Fifth Element Book Club offers a unique chance to connect through reading and reflection. This monthly virtual gathering focuses on texts that inspired the Fifth Element Framework, helping participants deepen their practice of resilience, repair, and liberation. Our first book, Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer, is a powerful blend of Indigenous wisdom, ecological science, and storytelling. It invites us to see reciprocity and care as active, livi

At Fifth Element, we believe in naming and honoring the sources of our inspiration. It’s part of our practice to acknowledge the wisdom that shapes us, because our work is not created in isolation — it grows out of relationships, teachings, and lineages of care. One of the most profound influences on Fifth Element has been Robin Wall Kimmerer’s Braiding Sweetgrass . Her words remind us that the land is not just scenery or resource, but a living relative. She teaches that our

At Fifth Element, we’ve always believed that sustainability without justice is hollow. Our work is rooted in embedding reparative justice, reciprocity, and care into the very structure of business. That’s why Esha Chhabra’s TED Talk, “ How Business Can Improve the World, Not Just the Bottom Line ,” resonated so deeply with us. In her talk, Esha reminds us that sustainability has too often become more marketing than action. She calls for businesses to move beyond performative

Fifth Element Circles are designed to help people connect, share resources, and build resilience together. While our work is inspired by the values of solidarity and care often associated with mutual aid, we are not trying to replicate a traditional mutual aid framework. Instead, we’ve built a structure that reflects both the realities of our communities and the practical need to reach more people sustainably. The Intentional Framework The Circles framework is intentional. It

What made Dene pick the name Fifth Element? How does it resonate with the work?