2nd Annual Living Economy Forum

Mrs. Green’s World host Gina Murphy-Darling and Local First Arizona (LFA) Southern Arizona Director Michael Peel discussed the 2nd Annual Arizona Living Economy Forum. Organizers view their signature event as an opportunity for growing prosperity in our community by bringing together visionary speakers from around Arizona to talk about what’s working locally and share tools to grow a more united, prosperous community. This annual event was hosted by Local First Arizona, Mrs. Green’s World and the YWCA Southern Arizona- Frances McClelland Community Center, and the Local First Arizona Foundation.

The forum included several tracks for participants to choose from:

• Food, Soil, and Nature: Investing in soil, local food, and nature-based businesses and infrastructure to increase the circulation of local foods in our economy.

• Shared Ownership and Community Capital: Cultivating democratic economic models: worker ownership, land trusts, public assets, the commons; diverging from Wall Street to invest communities and using philanthropy to mitigate risk for pioneers.

• Sustainable Solutions: Provide the tools to implement sustainability strategies in our daily lives and understand the interconnectedness of green efforts for greater impact and a holistic sustainable economy.

• Localism and Localist Policies: Promoting a culture of local, cooperative, and community owned businesses and organizations and advocating for policies that support these initiatives.

• Opportunity and Innovation for Engagement: The University of Arizona is leading education, innovation, and intervention in the field of climate change and climate reality.

Recorded and produced by Amanda Shauger.