Building a Local Economy that Works for All
Led by: Felice Yeskel and Ronda Soto, Class Action & Steve Schnapp, United for a Fair Economy
Location: First Congregational Church, Hadley, MA (Map link)
Cost/Registration: $25-$150 (based on ability to pay). Fee includes lunch on both days and conference materials.
Registration deadline: November 17, 2008 (Now Closed)
Description: This is the first of two 2-day trainings. (The second training, in January, will focus on skill-building.)
This Training is right for you if you are:
- a civic and/or community leader, nonprofit staff or board member, educator, entrepreneur, or active citizen, engaged in strengthening the economic well-being of your community;
- concerned about the instability of the U.S. economy and growing inequality in our community, country, and world;
- concerned about the impact of the Presidential and state elections will have on our local economies.
In the course of this two-day training we will:
- review national trends in income and wealth and the impact of extreme economic inequality on our communities;
- compare perspectives, from meritocracy (the system distributes resources-especially wealth and income-according to the merit of individuals) to plutocracy (a disproportionate influence of the wealthy on the political process), that help shape economic life;
- explore the connections between local sustainable development & social and economic policy at the state & national levels;
- develop an understanding of power and class that will allow us to build bridges across divides and to work more effectively together;
- develop meaningful connections with others from Hampden, Hampshire, and Franklin Counties;
- name economic policies that would move us toward a more equitable and stable economy, at all levels.
Co-sponsors: Alliance for Developing Power • The Brick House Community Resource Center • Community Action • Common Good Finance • Co-op Power • Equity Trust • First Congegational Church of Hadley • Pioneer Valley Local First/BALLE • Neighbor to Neighbor • Sea Change • Trusteeship Institute • Western MA AFSC • Western MA Jobs with Justice
To register click here. Registration deadline: October 31, 2008.
