Enrollment isn’t easy. But I love the work of enrollment. I see it as patient work that grows over time. It’s the art of the relational connection and the invitation to dream and fall in love with a different vision of the future… together. I love enrolling people in co-ops, in heterodox economics, in theContinue reading “Towards Anti-Racist Enrollment”
Category Archives: Week 3
Mail Order Empathy
I knew the conversation I needed to have when I read the assignment. I put in a call and expect to have a hear back today, it might be a repeat of a conversation I have had before but I will try to be more intentional and take a small leap. Change is possible. SoContinue reading “Mail Order Empathy”
A Path Forward
When I think about who might serve as a point of resistance to the shared ownership work that I am trying to achieve, I first think of my colleagues. There are 11 of us total at the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation. Of those 11, four are part of our senior leadership team and hold the mostContinue reading “A Path Forward”
Economy as Community of Communities
Read for an invitation, then a day in the neighborhood Dear partner in community economy, We are a Portland Catholic Worker community inviting you to share a guiding vision with us – economic society as a community of communities, gathered by shared commitments, equipped with the cooperative economic apparatus to realize them. For us inContinue reading “Economy as Community of Communities”
Co-ops Are In My DNA
This photo is taken from my hometown in NW Pennsylvania. My great-grandparents owned land across the road from where this historic marker is located. I grew up on the dairy farm they created with my grandparents. The lights that REA poles powered helped me read at night as a young girl. Today, this photo remindsContinue reading “Co-ops Are In My DNA”
a vision for a shared economy
things fell apart and the center did not hold at least that’s how grandpa talks about the olden days days where capital was holier than spirit man dominated (and subsequently) destroyed nature and growth was the ultimate god those days long gone — almost all but forgotten ……now we just are. living breathing and being,Continue reading “a vision for a shared economy”
Rinse and Repeat
It’s 8:00 a.m. August 18th 2030 and I’m checking my email. Yet another offer in my inbox to sell us their food company and convert it into a co-op. Of course they want to sell to us. We can pay well for their business and it’s in the seller’s interest to get a good exit. Continue reading “Rinse and Repeat”
Wildfire
Starting a business isn’t considered impossible. You think of an idea, you build a simple website, you go to town. Success certainly involves a lot more; assessing your market competition, testing your pricing, having a good pitch, having a lot of luck along the way. But we take it as a given that anyone shouldContinue reading “Wildfire”
For the Culture
She walked down 7th St. towards her rehearsal at the West Oakland Cultural Arts Center. On the way, she popped into the cafe for a tea. She stopped to chat with her buddy J sitting at one of the tables. J was prepping for a meeting about the design of an outdoor exhibition on theContinue reading “For the Culture”
The BS of the Fed – Where the Magic Happens
(updated 8/19/2020 3:30am PT) How can we Structure the Financial System to be Compatible with a Shared Ownership Economy? (Part 4) The balance sheet of the Fed will give you clues as to the health of the economy and of society as a whole. In the prior post I mentioned the Great Decoupling – theContinue reading “The BS of the Fed – Where the Magic Happens”
Week 3: “An Open Letter to our Rosedale Denver, CO and Planetary Neighbors: Sixty-One Years Blessing for All that Is”
Glory be to God for dappled things – For skies of couple-colour as a brinded cow; For rose-moles all in stipple upon trout that swim; Fresh-firecoal chestnut-falls; finches’ wings; Landscape plotted and pieced – fold, fallow, and plough; And áll trádes, their gear and tackle and trim. “Pied Beauty” by GERARD MANLEY HOPKINS DearContinue reading “Week 3: “An Open Letter to our Rosedale Denver, CO and Planetary Neighbors: Sixty-One Years Blessing for All that Is””
To JMK: Regarding The Economic Possibilities of Our Grandchildren
“Grandpa!!! Look at me, I can fly!!!” My granddaughter, Zara, jumped from the roof and gave her new wings a try, a little bit unsteady for the first few feet, then she stabilized for a smooth, 20-second glide across the park, landing in a pile of leaves. A new human flight record for her. MyContinue reading “To JMK: Regarding The Economic Possibilities of Our Grandchildren”
Wine with Friends
He couldn’t sleep last night – too much excitement about the direction of the world right now. All the networking and hard work finally took off – like the Fly Wheel in Good to Great. Everywhere he looks he now sees the influence of the Shared Ownership Green New Deal (SOGND) passed by President Harris and Speaker Ocasio-Cortez. He woke up to the earthyContinue reading “Wine with Friends”
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Sworn In As 48th President of the United States
January 20 2033Washington, DC Twelve years ago today, on January 20th, 2021, President Joseph R. Biden shocked the world by making two announcements. First, he announced that his first term would be his only term. And second, he proclaimed that he would be the last white male president for the next 100 years. True toContinue reading “Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Sworn In As 48th President of the United States”
A World Where My Investing Turmoil Disappears
Easy for Your Money to do Good. I imagine walking my 6-year-old Teddy to our local bank to open his first account and being surprised at how easy it is to have his money held in a way that aligns with our family values. I imagine when my daughter starts her first job and asksContinue reading “A World Where My Investing Turmoil Disappears”
Who Cares?
A story of now You make lots of money. But who cares? You hold lots of power. But who cares? You have an influential network. But who cares? You have a big house. But who cares? The investment banker who makes money off mine. The district attorney who dishes out fines. The big box CEOContinue reading “Who Cares?”
Letter to the Trade Coalition
Back in 2013, which seems like another world now, we stood together and fought for a fair economic future. We stood together and fought the corporations, and for a time, it looked like we won. We redefined the notion of trade and required that it be fair, not free. We said corporations can make aContinue reading “Letter to the Trade Coalition”
August 18, 2025
August 18, 2025 Wake a bit before 7 and dismiss the alarm before it goes off. A quick body-weight workout in the basement followed by Greek Yogurt and some berries, sweetened by osmosis from the sugar in a mug of coffee. That one mug from the top of Pikes Peak, where they sell those freshContinue reading “August 18, 2025”
Can the past be fruitful soil for the future?
I started imagining a day in the life of the new economy and found myself reflecting upon my current experience of living in a religious community. I have often thought that the way women religious have organized themselves offers many lessons for restructuring both our economy and our governance system. So I turned to howContinue reading “Can the past be fruitful soil for the future?”
Can shared ownership #KeepPeopleInTheirHomes?
Hi, everyone. I was inspired after yesterday’s group conversation to record my post this week, rather than write it. Thank you for watching. Credit unions have the power to act, to make emergency loans (with our money!) to keep people in their homes and forestall an eviction and foreclosure crisis. We have the power toContinue reading “Can shared ownership #KeepPeopleInTheirHomes?”
