Scott Morris is Developing A Model Local Economic Sustainability Project - and Invites Your Help!

We've heard recently from Cohort A's Scott Morris of Iowa, who writes:

  "Back in our first Caring Economics Conversation Leader circle, I was just on the cusp of launching a pilot of the then "Hometown Hero Rewards Program" here in Fairfield.  Well, it worked.  The town loved it.  So we kept fighting the good fight, and developed the governance and structure (not to mention an already cash-flow positive business model!) for an administrative Cooperative we've come to call "myLocal Cooperative."  

Right now, we're in the midst of a crowd-funding campaign to raise $25k by Thanksgiving Day with the hashtag #thiswayup.  Here's the link http://mylocal.coop/thiswayup/

We're looking to pulse this out through ALL of our networks, from those here locally to those connected to Katie Teague's Money & Life film (which we're also to be featured in) and beyond.  Crowd-funding campaigns succeed as much as they are shared, or at least that's what I'm told!

In any case, myLocal is not only my baby, but it's also a vehicle for implementing and reporting on CPS's new quality of life indicators.  You can count on me to ensure that happens as soon as possible, as it's also a point of personal passion. :)"

Thanks for your great work, Scott!  I know that many of our Fall conversation leaders share your passion for community-based economic solutions and for finding ways to integrate social wealth indicators at the community level.  

Good luck on the This Way Up campaign!  Keep us posted!

Jane Morba's Occupy Wall Street Experience

Hi everyone,

Jane Morba of Cohort F submitted the following story for The CLIC.  Thanks, Jane!

I experienced Occupy Wall Street NYC on 11.3.11, the day an organized group rallied in front of Goldman Sachs at 12.noon. I have been wanting to go in for weeks and finally had a set date.

I was following WBAI.org radio station to keep up with the OWS cause that particular morning to know the where about to meet. I felt part of the 99% and sympathetic to all the issues at hand. I also had a chat with Riane during my Cohert session, she mentioned go and be seen, let the energy come towards you and dialogue about the main issues. My team leaders were also very helpful. I have felt determined to go in, sign or no sign, although we discussed a sign.

As a photographer, I brought my still & video camera to the event and was very prepared. I needed all my hands. Coming in from NJ, I planned to walk down and meet the group at the steps of Goldman Sachs to protest and document. I tried to get someone to come with me but plans fell through so I went alone. Arriving to the sounds of drums I knew I found the group. I walked in and immediately felt at home, I focused
on documenting as much as possible. Video, camera, It was a strong group, all ages empowering each other to stand strong. I thought there were about 100 people, it was the People vs. Goldman Sachs trial and march.
13 people sat in front of GS and held the protest & energy, everybody was chanting, I filmed away, got so close a women cop yelled to me back off, I thought I am in it now, it felt good. Chris Hedges and 12 others were arrested, I respect all of them so much and people were chanting ʻthank youʼ to each and everyone being taken away by the police.

We continued chanting and then a call & response was sent to everybody to walk back to Liberty Park, to assist those arrested. We continued on and I chanted. This is what democracy looks like with the group, photographing away. I never felt so connected to a cause and group of mindful folks. Drums were leading the pack, I documented front and back, it was incredible, returning 6 long blocks, shadowed by cops on motorcycles, so many people were watching or documenting and putting out there voices. I was empowered
knowing I was doing such the right thing, Interesting, one guys said to me always to careful there can be traps like on the brooklyn bridge when a net was thrown and arrested people, it was serious and no joke, I appreciated the advise. Back to camp, I was blown away by the massiveness of the group, rows of tents,
people everywhere, organized, visiting from all over, signs, and expressions. Someone asked me where I was from and I said NJ, this guy said he was a history professor from Virginia and said his students were very excited. I interviewed him what a caring economics looks like, he was clearly articulate and I shared flyers of the partnership way.

We had a positive exchange and he said all OWS camps are stronger right now. I will piece my video all together. I felt so connected, so strengthened by the numbers and narratives in NYC, I believe that working with the ʻCaring Economicsʼ & Partnership way for a sane world where caring for families will benefit everybody, that is clearly what any sane person would believe. It is said over and over, there is such insanity at banks like Goldman and so glad I was there that day.

- Jane Morba, Cohort F

Global Gender Gap Report 2011 and "The War Against the Poor"

Thank you to Molly Freeman of Cohort D for sharing these! 

Below are links to a slideshow of Forbes’ Top 10 Countries for Women and the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report 2011, upon which the ranking is based.  The Report contains international facts and statistics that Conversation Leaders will find useful for presentations in various countries.  We have added it to the CLIC's library of Key Policy Reports.

Ten Best Countries for Women

Global Gender Gap Report 2011

Also submitted by Molly was this comprehensive article by Frances Fox Piven on “The War Against the Poor,” an excerpt of which follows:

"Some facts: early in 2011, the U.S. Census Bureau reported that 14.3% of the population, or 47 million people - one in six Americans - were living below the official poverty threshold, currently set at $22,400 annually for a family of four.  Some 19 million people are living in what is called extreme poverty, which means that their household income falls in the bottom half of those considered to be below the poverty line.  More than a third of those extremely poor people are children.  Indeed, more than half of all children younger than six living with a single mother are poor.  Extrapolating from this data, Emily Monea and Isabell Sawhill of the Brookings Institution estimate that further sharp increases in both poverty and child poverty rates lie in our American future."

For the full length article, click here:  The War Against the Poor