Following a productive programme of work in 2020 – 2021 delivered by EDAS and CLES in partnership with Scottish Government and COSLA, the programme for 2022 – 23 builds on this and aims to deliver a programme of activity to support practitioners at every stage of their journey towards a fully integrated Community Wealth Building (CWB) approach to economic development.

While a CWB action planning process has now been completed across pilot areas, there are many other Scottish localities now indicating an interest in CWB approach.

The Community Wealth Building Open Session #2 will bring an international perspective to Community Wealth Building. Community Wealth Building is a global movement that originated in the USA. The session will drill into four areas which are successfully advancing CWB strategy and activity, as well as the role of the American Rescue Plan (ARP) funding and ideas under development for Federal US CWB legislation.

Open Learning Session #2 – International Perspective

15 February 2022: 15:00 – 16:30

Agenda

15:00 – 15:05 Welcome: Liz McEntee, Chair, EDAS
15:05 – 15:15 Context: USA | Scotland – Similarities and Differences, Neil McInroy, Community Wealth Building Adviser, Scottish Government
15:15 – 15:25 CWB Beginnings: Introduction to Democracy Collaborative and Cleveland, Ohio, Sarah McKinley, Director of European Programmes & Next System Project Representative, Democracy Collaborative
15:25 – 15:35 Discussion

Case Studies

15:35 – 15:45 Somerville: Anne Tate, Professor, Rhode Island School of Design
15:45 – 15:55 Chicago: Nneka Onwuzurike, Consultant, Office of Equity and Racial Justice
15:55 – 16:05 Meadville: Julie Wilson, Associate Professor of Communication Arts, Allegheny College
16:05 – 16:30 Poll and open forum

Register your place here!

More information about the areas covered…

Cleveland, Ohio
Known by many as the place where Community Wealth Building began – an examination of Cleveland, Ohio gives us a more learnings from being further into the process.

Somerville, Boston
Somerville is a growing and economically buoyant city. Our speaker, Anne Tate, is a professor and activist. She will highlight the challenges of gentrification in Somerville, the problems of wealth accumulation/extraction and look at how CWB is working to ensure more people can enjoy a genuine stake in the economic success of the city.

Chicago, Illinois
Chicago is the third largest city in the USA. Our speaker, Nneka Onwuzurike, will highlight the growing role of CWB and Chicago’s CWB strategy in addressing longstanding poverty, inequality and racial injustices.

Meadville, Pennsylvania
Meadville is a small, rural town. Our speaker Julie Wilson will explore what CWB offers Meadville in its fight back against deindustrialisation and lack of opportunity, by building up community ownership of assets to create a local economy that works more effectively for local people and communities.

Save the date – Future open learning sessions

#3 Local authorities & Resources

8 March 2022, 14:00 – 15:30

#4 Community Partnerships

29 March 2022, 14:00 – 15:30

#5 Inclusive Ownership and Power

19 April 2022, 14:00 – 15:30

#6 Series Sum-up. What next?

17 May 2022, 14:00 – 15:30