Transcript the Power-Point

-Resilience CirclesBuilding an Economy That Works
For All
C o n n e c t
L e a r n
S h a r e
A c t
Where Are We Now?
Job Growth
Stock Market Gains
Foreclosures
Banking
Regulation
Social Contract
Accountability
Who is recovering?
Poverty in America
 Nearly one out of five Americans (18.6%) reported in a
recent survey by the Food Research and Action Center
that they had some difficulty feeding themselves or
their families in 2011. That’s 55 million people.
 The number of people on food stamps is about 16%.
That’s 50 million people.
 The poverty level for a family of four is about $22,000.
A record 49 million people lived below the poverty line
in 2010.
 Over 50 million people without health insurance
 8.1 million children under age 18 are without health
insurance (2007).
 43% of Americans are within 3 months of poverty if they
experienced a financial shock of some kind
 #1 reason for bankruptcy is medical expenses.
 The safety net is under attack
GOT RESILIENCE?
Facing Economic Change
 The End of Unlimited Growth
 Resource Depletion
 Debt
 Peak Oil
Transition
National Debt
Debt as a % of GDP
Now What?
…Shift Happens
 Localize
 Connect
 Support
 Produce
You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself
any direction you choose.
You're on your own.
And you know what you know.
And YOU are the guy
who'll decide where to go.
~ Dr. Seuss ~
Resilience Circles: Small groups of 10 – 15
people meeting for 7 sessions
Warning: Learning about the
economy or the environment
alone can be challenging. Find
your learning community.
Purposes:
Learn together – Change the Story
Mutual Aid – Create Community
Social Action – Change the Rules
Changing the Story
What messages have we absorbed about the idea of
economic success…..
….or failure?
The Old Story
You are on your own (YO-YO)
The Old Story
Everything will be just fine…….very soon
The Old Story
This slump is just a bump in the road. Right?
The Old Story
Your financial situation is personal and private!
The Old Story
Economic growth and expansion is the solution
The New Story: A Solidarity
Economy
 There is enough if
we share and
protect our
commons
 We all do better
when we all do
better
 Our health is linked
to the health of the
earth
The Fork in the Road
The Familiar Path:– The path of self-protection,
scarcity, fear, isolation, separation, a fortress
mentality.
A New Path
A New Path: Mutual
Support-- Together, we
can accomplish things that
no single person or family
can accomplish.
This is a “new story,” a
story that shows how
inventive, creative and
cooperative we can be,
especially during hard
times.
Together, we are a genius.
Create Community - Getting Our
Mutual Aid Muscles in Shape
•Finding Common Ground
•Overcoming Separation
•Realizing Our Gifts
•Expressing Our Needs
Weatherization Party
Time Banking
Personal Debt Management
Gift Circles
Re-skilling
Rent or Mortgage Party
Social Action: Change the Rules
 “Move Your Money”
 Support a Financial
Transaction Tax
 350.org campaigns
 Move to Amend (Citizens
United)
 US UNCUT
 Start a Co-op
 Occupy Your Neighborhood
Ground Rules
•Sharing is voluntary. You don’t have to share or personally disclose
anything you don’t wish to share.
•Respect one another. We are creating a space of respect and personal
safety.
•Confidentiality within the group is required. Personal information disclosed
within the group stays there.
•Make space for all to contribute. Talkative people may want to hold back a
little. People who tend to hold back --- please feel invited to open up more.
•Honor our differences. We assume that people are experiencing insecurity
differently depending on their personal circumstances, culture, race, gender
and other differences. Let us honor and celebrate our diversity. Our intent is
not to persuade others of our viewpoints. Regardless of our differences, we all
can benefit from strengthening our common security. The main thing is that we
listen to and understand each other as our primary objective.
Beyond Seven Sessions
 Community Forum
 Emergency Preparedness
 Enhancing Personal Safety Nets
and Networks
 Time Banking
 Community Garden
 Block Party
 Transition 101
 Your Money or Your Life
 Book Club
 Up-cycling and Swaps
 Bulk-Buying