Localize the Economy: Build Resilient Communities

Each program opens with great light food fare from Black Krim Tavern and offers an opportunity to post – and promote – organizing actions that people are committed to act on; an opportunity to launch new ideas, recruit participants and/or inspire deeper engagement… anything that strengthens local capacity and stronger, interconnected communities.

• March 22: The film, “The Economics of Happiness” and dialogue with filmmaker Steven Gorelick (the film offers an overview of why the current global economic model is failing the vast majority of humanity… and then offers positive, dynamic localization actions seen on six continents)
• March 29: “Know Your Farmer — Feed Your Farmer” – a celebration of our local food system and farmers (for one night we turn the tables and the eaters feed the farmers; also many great stories from farmers we know and live music)
• April 12: “Local Dollars, Local Sense” talk with Gwen Hallsmith of Vermonters for a New Economy (actions that we can take at local and state level, including a state bank commission and much more about localizing money exchange and investment)
• April 19: “Slow Democracy” with presenter Susan Clark (author of Slow Democracy; what is the scale at which democracies work well… and how to keep them vibrant)
• May 10: “Learning from Our Local Past” with Camden Walters and Euclid Farnham (what can we learn from our past that can help us relocalize our communities)
• May 24: To be Announced

Organized by BALE (Building A Local Economy) in partnership with Local Futures, Vermonters for a New Economy, Sustainable Woodstock, Rural Vermont, Alliance for Vermont Communities, Peace & Justice Committee of Bethany Church, and Feast & Field Market.
Supported by the New England Grassroots Environment Fund, Larsen Family Fund, Sustainable Future Fund of the Vermont Community Foundation and Catamount Solar Community Grants.