Let's better understand the global economy, financial systems and their impact on local communities. Learn and share on how we are and can move toward a more stable and thriving, creative, sane, democratic, and beautiful future!

Essential Knowledge for Transition Times --Economics for Sustainable Communities  --- -This is a special four-part series with Marco Vangelisti, from Slow Money and Community Capital Caucus, and other featured guests. Each one has a different focus. Join us for 1, 2, or all 4. Save time and help us out by pre-paying online below! There will be plenty of time for Q&A and audience interaction, and light snacks and socializing afterward.

March 1 - Session 1: How the international banking and money systems work and how they affect our lives. Learn how we could tackle the national debt without raising taxes or cutting services. We will look at real-world alternatives to the current money and banking systems.

March 8 - Session 2: How does our global economic system work? Why do we need to change it, and how? Learn about the many on-the-ground experiments around the world to shift the economic system and how you can participate.

March 22 - Session 3: What is financial capitalism and how has it driven the US and global economy? How are current systems of investment (from your IRA to big banks, pension funds, venture capital, and hedge funds) affecting our lives at the local level?  We will look at alternative ways people are investing for a better future.

March 29 (to be confirmed) - Session 4: Why is housing so expensive in the Bay Area?  What challenges and choices do we have beyond the debt-driven and carbon-intensive models of the past 80 years? Why does affordable housing and intentional community development such as cohousing, and ecovillages matter in a transition economy?   Betsy Morris will add an overview of the affordable housing and cohousing approaches to Marco's global perspective,  followed by open discussion on the themes and strategies presented in the prior three sessions including Slow Money and Sustainable Community Housing.

Payment: We're asking $20 at the door for this first talk - cash or checks accepted. Take $5 off for online pre-payment; $10 off for supporting members, and free if you become a supporting member at or before the event! Payments can be made online through Paypal or Amazon, or by phone.  Call with any questions, [masked].  All payments go to support EBCOHO's ongoing expenses (see Money under Group Tools menu above). If you need to make other arrangements, give us a call.

If you can't make it, check out this helpful video link: How does the current banking system affect you?

BIOGRAPHIES

Marco Vangelisti -- Marco came to the US as a Fulbright Scholar in mathematics and economics at the University of California in Berkeley. After a stint in the financial industry, Marco worked as visual artist on a full-time basis for 5 years and obtained a MFA focusing on the intersection between public art and ecology. He later worked for 6 years for Grantham, Mayo, Van Otterloo & Co. LLC (“GMO”), managing investment equity portfolios primarily on behalf of large foundations and endowments. In April 2009 Marco left the finance industry and has since been instrumental in the formation and development of the Slow Money Northern California chapter where he currently leads the investor working group. Marco also serves on the Slow Money national steering committee and represents Northern CA in the national Slow Money Chapter Council. In the second half of 2012 Marco led the design and launch of the Soil Trust, a Slow Money philanthropic revolving fund investing in small food and farming enterprises around the county. Marco is currently developing an Economics for Transition curriculum for engaged citizens and activists.

Betsy Morris - city planner, researcher, community economic development consultant, and co-host of East Bay Cohousing and Cohousing California.  Betsy has been living in and working in the area of intentional and grassroots community development since her 20's. She has a doctorate in City & Regional Development and has taught at UC-Berkeley, SFSU, and USC, served on the Berkeley Planning Commission, and been working in the area of sustainable community and regional development (social, economic, and environmental) since the early 1990s.  She has studied, written and led events on affordable housing and affordable cohousing strategies for housing development professionals, advocates, and community seekers.  A Slow Money investor, she is part of a small group of EBCOHO members exploring feasiblity for a Shared Housing Lenders Fund. She is active in the international cohousing, intentional communities, and ecovillage networks.