Essential Knowledge for Transition

July 14-15 with Marco Vangelisti

Essential Knowledge for Transition

Understanding the economy, money and investing and how to transform them for a regenerative world 

Few of us realized the extent to which the design of the money system, the economic system and the financial system constraints our choices and frustrates our desire to bring forth a more healthy and compassionate world. Regular people feel intimidated by the language used by experts and confused by jargon. The purpose of the weekend course is to provide an accessible understanding of money, the economy and investing. We will identify the design flaws of those systems and find out how we can participate in their transformation. In the first section “Breaking the money taboo” we will talk about the money system, alternative currencies and ways to redesign money so that it works for all members of society and in balance with a healthy environment. In the section “Beyond Capitalism” we will explore the economy and healthier alternatives to capitalism. Finally in the section “Investing for the World we Want” we will look at the role finance and investing can play in such transformation.

Learning Objectives:

• Explain the core function and purpose of “economics”

• Illustrate the inextricable relationship between economics, ecology, and people

• Gain a deeper understanding of the money and banking system in the U.S.

• Explore how current economic institutions can be repurposed for a regenerative economy

• Explain the current economic system and explore alternatives

• Assess alternative economic tools and business models, including complementary currencies, timebanks, land trusts, and cooperatives

• Explore ways of structuring a social enterprise in a way to protect its mission in perpetuity

• Examine how finance and investing can align with your values and support a local, resilient economy