Judy Wicks will deliver a Schumacher Lecture on October 10th at the John Dewey Academy, Searles Castle. Her talk “Building a New Economy: What’s Love Got to Do With It?” draws upon her extensive experience as a leader in the localization movement.
She has been called the Alice Waters of the Northeast for her role as founder of White Dog Café, which she started on the first floor of her Philadelphia row house. In 1986, she became an early pioneer of the farm to table movement when she began buying from local farmers for White Dog. Realizing that helping other restaurants connect with local farmers would strengthen the regional food system, she founded Fair Food Philadelphia in 2000.
The following year she co-founded the national Business Alliance for Local Living Economies (BALLE), now a network of over 20,000 local independent businesses in the U.S. and Canada, and founded the local affiliate Sustainable Business Network of Greater Philadelphia, currently with over 400 members. In 2009 Judy sold the White Dog with a unique agreement that preserves local, independent ownership and maintains sustainable business practices, including buying from local farmers, composting, and using renewable energy.
The talk will begin at 7:30pm, doors open at 7:00pm. Pre-registration is required, as seating is limited. Payment will be taken at the door – tickets are $10 or 10 BerkShares (BerkShares Preferred).
Copies of Judy’s memoir, “Good Morning, Beautiful Business: the Unexpected Journey of an Activist Entrepreneur and Local Economy Pioneer,” will be available for purchase & book signing following the talk.
This event is co-sponsored by: BerkShares, Inc., BerkShire Grown, Community Land Trust in the Southern Berkshires, Kosmos Journal, and Community Development Corporation of South Berkshire.