March 13, 2015
Small farmers and underserved urban communities need changes in national food policies and international trade rules to have a fighting chance of feeding themselves and building healthy, prosperous livelihoods. – Eric Holt-Giménez Eric Holt-Giménez is Executive Director of Food First, a California-based non-profit founded in 1978, and named by the New York Times as one … Continued
February 12, 2015
In her 1984 book Cities and the Wealth of Nations, the remarkable Jane Jacobs writes not about economics, but about economic life. She observes economies in motion, not in stasis, and argues that city regions are the heart of that economic life – pulsing, changing, and engaging in “exuberant episodes of import-replacing.” She worries that … Continued
January 17, 2015
The Board of Directors is pleased to announce that Greg Watson will join the Schumacher Center’s staff as Director of Policy and Systems Design. He is concluding his second tenure as Commissioner of Agriculture with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts this week, stepping down as the Patrick administration leaves office. He also served as Commissioner under Governors Dukakis … Continued
January 5, 2015
We are delighted to announce that Schumacher Center and BerkShares will be partnering with Railroad Street Youth Project and Berkshire Community College’s South County Center to offer an Entrepreneurial Apprenticeship to South County youth ages 14-25 this winter. Berkshire Community College’s South County Center will host the eight-week long course in one of its state-of-the-art … Continued
December 30, 2014
The 34th Annual E. F. Schumacher Lectures by Matt Stinchcomb and Caroline Woolard are available for viewing. In his Schumacher Lecture, Matt Stinchcomb, the Vice President of Values and Impact at Etsy, addressed the topic “The Nature of Work: How Ecosystems Can Teach Us to Build Lasting and Fulfilling Businesses.” In his words: I knew … Continued
December 19, 2014
We are sharing highlights of our work in 2014. This year we: Convened the 34th Annual E. F. Schumacher Lectures with Matt Stinchcomb and Caroline Woolard, exploring what creative enterprise means for a new economy; Hosted lectures by Judy Wicks, Michelle Long, and Peter Barnes; Published our Annual E. F. Schumacher Lectures on Kobo and Kindle; Created a new economy … Continued
December 4, 2014
As proponents of a transition to a new economy we have identified the following focus points for our work: Local Economies The Local Economy movement is considered by many to be the engine of the new economy. Vibrant, energetic, and self-empowered, it is characterized by the vision and creativity of entrepreneurs partnering with concerned … Continued
October 16, 2014
Judy Wicks was advised by friends to franchise her popular White Dog Café but she rejected the suggestion. The White Dog was shaped by its Philadelphia neighborhood, by Judy’s hosting style and tastes, by the regional farmers who supplied the restaurant, by the staff drawn to work there, and by the culture of its customers. … Continued
September 26, 2014
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 … Continued
September 9, 2014
The pursuit of a new economics has broad implications. Our Earth is in crisis; our communities are in crisis. At the heart of these twin issues is an economic system that treats land, air, water, and minerals—our common inheritance—as commodities to be bought and sold on the market. An economic system that distributes the income … Continued
August 5, 2014
A growing number of young people know what must be done to cure our ailing global economy. They are not only protesting a failing system but are also building its replacement. New agrarians are being met by fellow new economists in urban neighborhoods, small towns, and remote villages. They are coming home—a Generation Local. You will … Continued
July 18, 2014
In his new book, With Liberty and Dividends for All: How to Save Our Middle Class When Jobs Don’t Pay Enough, Peter Barnes continues the current discussion about wealth inequality. In his argument that the middle class will be unable to sustain their lifestyle on wages alone, he echoes the analysis of Thomas Piketty in Capital … Continued