Welcome to the XRPDX Wellbeing Economy Corner! Here we’ll strive to answer questions, disseminate information, and present calls to action, all with the goal of building momentum to create positive systemic change.
When our November showing of Outgrow the System overflowed PCC’s Moriarty Auditorium, it was a clear indicator that people not only recognize our current systems are failing us, but are also hungry for change. At that showing, we asked audience members to submit questions to us, and they responded:
“How can we share these concepts of alternate economies more broadly? How can we appeal to the general public, those not familiar with these ideas, and especially those on the margins who have not benefited from our current economic system, including those who have been hoodwinked into supporting the perpetrators of the system?”
Hello, Fellow Outgrower!
Oof, yeah. Effectively getting the word out can be challenging when something runs counter to the status quo, and even more so when it might upheave the comfort of some very wealthy people. When we’re looking to engage broad swaths of folks with a novel concept, I believe that normalization should be one of the first steps. By drawing attention to, and actively developing small scale, local, real life examples, everyone can experience these theoretical changes in action. That way, it seems less like a strange new concept, and more something we already experience, that could be attainable on a larger scale. We have tons of Wellbeing Economy microcosms that many of us interact with and benefit from. Any system that equalizes inequalities, redistributes resources, and prioritizes care of people and environment over profit are representative.
These examples are everywhere, and not just in progressive cities. Community Supported Agriculture Programs (CSAs), focus resources locally, support smaller farms who are highly interdependent with the health of their land and livestock, and create local ecosystems that level off organically, being directly linked to their immediate community’s demand and their ability to supply. Community gardens promote land stewardship, allowing folks who don’t have space to grow food a chance to participate in the joy of producing food in a shared space, with extra produce sometimes going to people suffering from food insecurity. Co-ops create a deeper investment in local businesses, allowing their employees to participate and develop pride of place, while also encouraging deeper and more scrupulous relationships between local producers and the marketplace. Libraries, from books to tools to synthesizers, (shoutout to https://synthlibraryportland.com/ ), recycle resources, preventing the need for individual purchase and weaving a web of accessibility that allows people of all income levels to have the tools they need to thrive. ALL of these examples build community foundations, increase accessibility to resources, and put a dent in consumerism.
As we identify and build these community systems, it’s also important to spread the word about them, drawing parallels between them and city or state-wide policy. Our Outgrow the System panelists (Black Oregon Land Trust, People’s Economy Lab, Community Energy Project, Kalikasan, and Community Budgeting for all), are amazing examples of Orgs that are actively working to create policies that reflect these values. Fortunately, I think the precariousness of the environment, widespread disillusionment, and a madman in our highest office, are all creating a momentum that we can use in our favor. We need to try to reach people where they’re at, while not getting too hung up on convincing everyone. Many progressive movements and policies faced hard opposition from people who have been manipulated to act against their interests, but succeeded anyway. When those same policies begin to improve people’s lives, they are sorely missed when someone defunds or removes them. As an alarming amount of these programs are being gutted daily, the only silver lining is a unique opportunity to resonate with at least some of these folks when they start to feel the pinch. So many markers point toward a majority that are hungry for change, sometimes all it takes is showing people that another way is possible.
Then there’s what we’re doing right here, right now! Writing these posts, getting the word out, and encouraging involvement. Community-based economic systems are all about the people who compose them, and talking about these changes plants the seeds for bigger, more widespread action. It’s up to all of us to educate ourselves and spread the word about these concepts, and to believe that we can change things for the better. Tell your friends, share references, make videos and blog posts. Start incorporating these concepts into the way you view your city, gather people together, and form microcosms of your own. Educate yourself on local organizations that center and uplift BIPOC and low-income communities, and find ways to amplify and help them. Make a list of local Wellbeing bubbles, share, and support them through resources or time. Start paying attention to local government policy, (your city council, school boards, etc…), vocally supporting measures that embrace these shifts and rejecting those that move us backwards. Finally, bring as many people as you can on board. We have been passive for far too long, and the result is a government so many of us feel we have no control to change. Disengagement is poison to democracy, and we are long overdue to come together to create a country that uplifts the most marginalized and protects the most vulnerable. A country that is for ALL of us.
Look, everything is crazy, and we are all spinning in circles, trying to figure out what we can do to stop all this awful stuff from happening. Narrowing our focus to local things that we can control is an amazing antidote to existential panic. SO, take whatever horrible thing that this administration has done today or this week that has caused your blood pressure to spike, and look for a way to reverse it in your immediate vicinity. Beginning to shift our local economies away from corporate interests, while centering marginalized communities and local production has so many interconnected facets, and is applicable to just about any area you’re passionate about. Contributing your time, resources and enthusiasm to any group that is moving us towards this end is a massive step forward. Keep educating yourself and others about this movement and bring the ethos with you when you put your voice and hands to building your community. When push comes to shove, WE are going to be the force in this country that makes or breaks it, and all we need to do to make it what we want, is keep hope alive and get involved.
And now, a few questions for our readers:
Would anyone be interested in a Degrowth/Wellbeing Economy Book Club?
Can you think of any ways we might be able to improve our outreach, or any organizations who might be interested in changing the landscape of Portland’s economy?
Would YOU like to get involved, and if so, what are your passions?
Finally, do you have any questions or comments for us?
For any of the above, please email us at: XRPDX.Wellbeing4All@proton.me
