Thanks to Ebony Johnson and Professor AJ Lowe for a great hour discussing alternatives to capitalism on KKFI Kansas City Community Radio. Listen to the podcast at https://kkfi.org/program-episodes/alternatives-to-capitalism/.
Economics for Emancipation Podcast
Center for Economic Democracy has released a 4-part podcast: Economics for Emancipation. I had the privilege of appearing on Episode 2 with Kali Akuno of Cooperation Jackson. Our 45-minute segment is called: There’s No Such Thing As The Economy. In this episode, Penn and Kali offer provocative ideas on how we relate to the economy.Continue reading Economics for Emancipation Podcast
Lessons from the Pandemic for Building Resilience
I had the privilege of working with Dr. Neenah Estrella-Luna this past year on a project to learn how communities in the Boston area have been building resilience during the pandemic. Thanks to Barr Foundation for commissioning this project. Our final report and recording of our May 25th webinar are now available. Check out BarrContinue reading Lessons from the Pandemic for Building Resilience
Two Master’s Theses Completed in Collaboration with Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative
Luisa Santos and Molly Kaviar completed their Tufts UEP Master’s theses this spring 2021, working with the Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative (DSNI). Both served as Research Assistants on a community action research project between UEP and DSNI that started in 2018. [For more on this project, go to this website.] DSNI has been working forContinue reading Two Master’s Theses Completed in Collaboration with Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative
Seeing Solidarity Economy in Action in Montreal
By Allie Wainer and Melissa Gordon In May 2019, a group of 18 students and faculty with Tufts New Economy and community members from the Solidarity Economy Initiative traveled to Montreal for a weekend to exchange ideas with organizations putting solidarity economy values into practice. Instead of traveling to an academic-style conference, we explored MontrealContinue reading Seeing Solidarity Economy in Action in Montreal
Arts for Community Control: Planning an Arts and Innovation District Without Displacement
This article, written by Penn Loh and Molly Kaviar, was posted in Shelterforce magazine (Sep. 28, 2020): https://shelterforce.org/2020/09/28/planning-an-arts-district-with-art-and-fighting-displacement-with-community/. This piece shares learnings from our community action research collaboration with Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative, focusing on how the arts have been used in community planning in Upham’s Corner. Jason Moreno first learned about redevelopment efforts takingContinue reading Arts for Community Control: Planning an Arts and Innovation District Without Displacement
Reflections on Radical Transformation: Moving from a Singular System Story to Pluriverse
By Penn Loh This essay is a confession of sorts, from someone who believes that other worlds are possible and has worked in grassroots movements to fight against injustices and unsustainabilities for the last three decades. While we still have plenty to fight against and now aspire to a Just Transition to a new economy,Continue reading Reflections on Radical Transformation: Moving from a Singular System Story to Pluriverse
Advancing the Black Commons
Read this Juneteenth 2020 post in the Conversation by Tufts colleague Julian Agyeman and Kofi Boone (North Carolina State) on collective ownership and the black commons. Land loss has plagued black America since emancipation – is it time to look again at ‘black commons’ and collective ownership? Underlying the recent unrest sweeping U.S. cities overContinue reading Advancing the Black Commons
Pandemic Panels April-May 2020
I have had the honor of participating in several online panels in April and May relating the coronavirus pandemic to economic justice, Earth Day, and community self-governance. Below are links to the recordings. Imagining and Demanding Economic Justice in the Time of Coronavirus[recorded Monday May 5] The Institute for Research on Race and Public PolicyContinue reading Pandemic Panels April-May 2020
Mutual Banks: an old model for a new economy?
Not all banks are created equal. Most are owned by Wall Street investors, while some are owned by their own customers (such as credit unions). The mutual bank, governed like a trust by a small group of “corporators,” occupies a position somewhere in between. Not beholden to stockholders, these mutuals are more free to act in ways that contribute to their communities, employees, and environmental sustainability. They can be critical catalysts for building community wealth and solidarity economies. Continue reading Mutual Banks: an old model for a new economy?