"The neighbor had been wanting to contact her for six months" -> this basically just happened in my neighborhood. All of the neighbors on the block had been wanting to host something in the park nearby so we get to know our neighbors. We've been talking about it for months. Then an unknown neighbor, outside of our cluster that no one knew, went around dropping flyers on everyone's door with a time & place. And everyone showed up, and it was amazing!
I love this..and I have so many questions. I am trying to understand how this new economy model would be able to deal with things like: electricity, water, the prison system, and also, the fact that there is an unequal distribution of wealth and resources in terms of the geological placement of diverse communities and the fact that some communities do not have the economic capabilities that others do........ Perhaps someone has thought of all that...I am fairly new to this way of thinking... As an example, would the community in the area of a prison be responsible for the people inside it? Would we just let them all out? and how would we pay for their needs using this new economy model. Also...healthcare....or any part of what is/was our infrastructure..... Also... a community that can pool more economic resources is going to do better than ones in impoverished areas. ... It seems that if we want a society that functions according to "well being" that there is a lot we need to consider. Just putting this out there for thought.
The beauty of this is we don't have to have it all figured out. When we shift the purpose of systems from extraction to regeneration, communities figure out the specifics as they go, adapting what works from other places.
There are already working examples everywhere: Norway's restorative justice (20% recidivism vs 68% in the US), over 900 community energy cooperatives in America (Ambition Lawrence Weston is a UK story Matt Golding covers where a community came together to own their own energy grid), Barcelona taking water back from corporations, the Preston Model keeping wealth local through anchor institutions.
Communities are solving these challenges right now: Cooperation Jackson networks cooperatives regionally. Cleveland's Evergreen Cooperatives create local ownership. Scotland, Wales, Iceland, Finland, New Zealand have adopted wellbeing economy intiatives by other countries are adopting intiatives based on their own metrics (Doughnut economics is a famous model).
Each community meets problems as they arise. Places with fewer resources often have advantages - they're more motivated to cooperate and less attached to extractive systems. Communities start where they are with what they have, taking what works from other places and adapting it to their specific situation. (See Asset Based Community Development / Cormac Russell for more on this.)
The shift isn't about having perfect solutions from day one. It's about changing the purpose, then letting communities build what works for them using principles that prioritize their definition of wellbeing.
Hopefully that shines some light on those questions? Let me know if you'd like to dive into any of these parts more deeply.
One of the most important things you can do is just start connecting to people locally. The more you connect, the more opportunities come up, the more you figure out what you want to be a part of -- the right projects just naturally evolve out of that. (Though there are some things to learn and keep in mind, which we mostly address on Wednesdays -- Act day, and Anarcasper address in the prefigurative community building series he's written)
Mike Jones (Resilient Tomorrow if you follow his publication) is working on a tool on track to share with everyone *next* Wednesday that will help with getting started and keeping track.
As far as getting involved with this project, we need someone to help set up weekly meetings (right now reaching out and seeing what times work best for people) for Q&As and support, people to take on community management / engagement / cycles in the Discord group. Also someone to take on Signal group stewardship. And someone to arrange a stewardship chat for coordinating all of this.
We are learning connection as we go too! Which is a lesson in it doesn't have to be perfect -- just start :)
Happy to discuss further, let us know what you need help with to get started xoxo
"The neighbor had been wanting to contact her for six months" -> this basically just happened in my neighborhood. All of the neighbors on the block had been wanting to host something in the park nearby so we get to know our neighbors. We've been talking about it for months. Then an unknown neighbor, outside of our cluster that no one knew, went around dropping flyers on everyone's door with a time & place. And everyone showed up, and it was amazing!
We all wanted it, but someone had to start it.
Incredible story. Imagine how much this is happening all over the world! Thank you for sharing it xoxo
I love this..and I have so many questions. I am trying to understand how this new economy model would be able to deal with things like: electricity, water, the prison system, and also, the fact that there is an unequal distribution of wealth and resources in terms of the geological placement of diverse communities and the fact that some communities do not have the economic capabilities that others do........ Perhaps someone has thought of all that...I am fairly new to this way of thinking... As an example, would the community in the area of a prison be responsible for the people inside it? Would we just let them all out? and how would we pay for their needs using this new economy model. Also...healthcare....or any part of what is/was our infrastructure..... Also... a community that can pool more economic resources is going to do better than ones in impoverished areas. ... It seems that if we want a society that functions according to "well being" that there is a lot we need to consider. Just putting this out there for thought.
The beauty of this is we don't have to have it all figured out. When we shift the purpose of systems from extraction to regeneration, communities figure out the specifics as they go, adapting what works from other places.
There are already working examples everywhere: Norway's restorative justice (20% recidivism vs 68% in the US), over 900 community energy cooperatives in America (Ambition Lawrence Weston is a UK story Matt Golding covers where a community came together to own their own energy grid), Barcelona taking water back from corporations, the Preston Model keeping wealth local through anchor institutions.
Communities are solving these challenges right now: Cooperation Jackson networks cooperatives regionally. Cleveland's Evergreen Cooperatives create local ownership. Scotland, Wales, Iceland, Finland, New Zealand have adopted wellbeing economy intiatives by other countries are adopting intiatives based on their own metrics (Doughnut economics is a famous model).
Each community meets problems as they arise. Places with fewer resources often have advantages - they're more motivated to cooperate and less attached to extractive systems. Communities start where they are with what they have, taking what works from other places and adapting it to their specific situation. (See Asset Based Community Development / Cormac Russell for more on this.)
The shift isn't about having perfect solutions from day one. It's about changing the purpose, then letting communities build what works for them using principles that prioritize their definition of wellbeing.
Hopefully that shines some light on those questions? Let me know if you'd like to dive into any of these parts more deeply.
Thank you for this..it is really helpful.
I have been trying to figure out how to connect with people in my area. I love this. How do I get more involved??
We are building out more and more resources for this as we grow the platform. Right now, we have a Wellbeing Economy / Community Wealth Initiative Finder Prompt here: https://realjfriday.substack.com/p/a-prompt-for-finding-wellbeing-economy
One of the most important things you can do is just start connecting to people locally. The more you connect, the more opportunities come up, the more you figure out what you want to be a part of -- the right projects just naturally evolve out of that. (Though there are some things to learn and keep in mind, which we mostly address on Wednesdays -- Act day, and Anarcasper address in the prefigurative community building series he's written)
Mike Jones (Resilient Tomorrow if you follow his publication) is working on a tool on track to share with everyone *next* Wednesday that will help with getting started and keeping track.
As far as getting involved with this project, we need someone to help set up weekly meetings (right now reaching out and seeing what times work best for people) for Q&As and support, people to take on community management / engagement / cycles in the Discord group. Also someone to take on Signal group stewardship. And someone to arrange a stewardship chat for coordinating all of this.
We are learning connection as we go too! Which is a lesson in it doesn't have to be perfect -- just start :)
Happy to discuss further, let us know what you need help with to get started xoxo