To build a just local economy and strengthen our community resilience, we need a more robust set of tools. Local investing is one potential solution. On Wednesday, August 4, Local Return is hosting a community planning session around local investment. We’ll continue the conversation we started at Local Investment 101, a workshop series with Community…
What is community wealth?
Local Return exists to build community wealth. So what is community wealth, and why does it matter? A community’s wealth comes from the assets that it collectively owns or controls, and which the community uses to care for its place and one another. Community wealth is not just about monetary value that exists or is…
Community Conversation with Karen Figueroa and Pam Jennings
Posted on Author JessicaPosted in Community Conversations, Community Wealth, Rebuilding, Recovery, Rhode Island happenings
“It’s giving people real power over the money and decisions that impact their community under the assumption that it’s the people that use those spaces and are walking the streets and in the schools every day that…have a pretty good knowledge of what changes and what things they would like to see happen.” This, says…
Community Conversation with Shannon Brawley & Shayna Cohen
“The biggest issue facing our industry is the lack of individuals coming into the industry,” Rhode Island Nursery & Landscape Association Executive Director Shannon Brawley told our board member Sue AnderBois. “And we have such an increasing demand for our services, for our products, as we navigate climate change, as we navigate issues around food…
Community Conversation with Diane Lynch and Nessa Richman
Posted on Author JessicaPosted in Community Conversations, Community Wealth, Local Partners, Rhode Island happenings
Building wealth and resilience requires a true ecosystem approach. Beyond individual programs or entities, we must understand how factors and players interact with one another. Local Return director Josh Daly sat down with two experts at systems-level work. Nessa Richman is network director and Diane Lynch is chair of the Rhode Island Food Policy Council,…
Community Conversation with Chloe Chassaing
Posted on Author JessicaPosted in Community Conversations, Community Investing, Community Wealth, Local Partners, Rhode Island happenings
Cooperative fans and caffeine aficionados rejoiced when White Electric Coffee at 711 Westminster Street reopened in May. Over the past year, a group of former employees from Providence’s beloved coffee shop formed the worker-owned CUPS Cooperative and purchased the business from the former owner. Worker-owner Chloe Chassaing joined Local Return directors Raul Figueroa and Josh Daly to…
Buy local + eat local + ❤️ = Dish Up RI
Ever wanted to make Aunt Carrie’s clam cakes at home or serve sweet corn cakes from La Arepa at your next dinner party? This is your chance. On May 21, a crowd gathered at Dave’s Marketplace in East Greenwich to celebrate Dish Up RI, a new initiative of Hope & Main. With a CARES Act…
Community Conversation with Dr. Michael Fine
“I think a lot about the Old Testament and the ten plagues. For me, Moses was the first and best community organizer.” This is the kind of thing that comes up when two community organizers get together. Local Return director (and community organizer) Raul Figueroa sat down with family physician, author, and long-time organizer Dr.…
Join us for Local Investment 101!
Rhode Island’s small businesses have been devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic and related shutdowns. As we plan for the revival of our businesses, our economies, and community life, local investing is one potential solution. That’s why Local Return is hosting Local Investing 101, a workshop series with Community Economist Michael H. Shuman, author of five…
Community Conversation with Jazandra Barros
Posted on Author JessicaPosted in Community Conversations, Community Investing, Community Wealth, Local Partners, Rhode Island happenings
“It’s really amazing to me to see how much folks are growing sometimes on very small pieces of land,” noted Jazandra Barros, Community Outreach Coordinator for Southside Community Land Trust. SCLT would know. They’ve been around for 40 years, building infrastructure for urban gardens and farms. Jazandra spoke with Local Return director Sue AnderBois about…