PLANTING THE SEEDS OF A CARING ECONOMY
with Educational Edible Gardens!
~~THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS St. Louis Park is sponsoring "PLANTING THE SEEDS OF A CARING ECONOMY: Through the Principles of Permaculture, Social Innovation, Purpose, and Compassion," a presentation and dialogue led by Julie Rappaport, of St. Louis Park, MN, on Sunday, March 17, 2pm at the St. Louis Park City Hall Council Chambers. (ParkTV will record the presentation and dialogue for later replay on cable channel 15. Details will be available at www.parktv.org.)
A "Caring Economy" goes beyond our current teaching of economics and those prescribed indicators (market GNP, government, and the illegal market.) A Caring Economy adds indicators based on caring: for people, for the earth, and those who volunteer and keep our nation running through unpaid work. Without these "hidden" aspects as indicators addressed in the current teachings of economics, nor our core values in mission statements, we fail to address what the Nordic nations have valued as almost 40% of their GNP. However, without these aspects, the usual indicators would not be able to function. Current teachings and mission statements leave "caring" as invisible and un-valued.
One way to actualize a Caring Economy is to incorporate a collaborative community, educational and civic goal (crossing all educational levels, capabilities, ages, nationalities, religions and any other demographic,) by adding SUSTAINABLE FOOD PRACTICES and FOOD JUSTICE goals and implementations to the city and school district's mission statements.
St. Louis Park, as a top city "where to live" and a top school district in the nation, is a leader on many fronts. It is also behind forerunners in a few areas. Certain cities have already incorporated caring economics into their mission statements, and many school districts are acting on teaching the basic life skills of food and nutrition, from the garden to the table, utilizing federal grants and state approved curriculum already in place.
This presentation will facilitate an opening conversation on what the Real Wealth of our community economy is and what is our purpose under this conversation as a community.
• What are the fundamental needs of humanity?
• What is Real Wealth? And how is it valued?
• What can we do to create an economic system that cares and is rewarded for caring?
• How do Educational Edible Gardens help establish caring economics into our community and our schools?
• What kind of Social Innovation projects overlap with goals of caring implemented into our civic and district mission statements?
A Caring Economy, that goes beyond the conventional paradigms of capitalism vs. socialism and looks at the full spectrum of economic activity, is one that supports Caring for People, Caring for the Earth, and "PARTNER-ISM" through Purposeful and Compassionate Social Innovation. Join the League of Women Voters St. Louis Park, educators, officials, alumni, residents, businesses and organizations for an evening that sparks a new economic framework that works!
For more information, contact Julie Rappaport, 612-867-3877, or via email at julierappaport@gmail.com, or go to www.CaringEconomy.org.
PLANTING THE SEEDS OF A CARING ECONOMY:
Through the Principles of Permaculture, Social Innovation, Purpose, and Compassion
Sunday, March 17, 2 pm
St. Louis Park City Hall Council Chambers
Presentation sponsored by League of Women Voters St. Louis Park
Dialogue led by Julie Rappaport, of St. Louis Park, MN
About the Presenter:
While not an economist, nor expert, but a facilitator and trained conversation leader, Julie is dedicated to life-long learning, and is currently training with the Center for Partnership Studies to be certified as a Conversation Leader in Caring Economics. Focusing on "The Real Wealth of Nations," by Riane Eisler, this course offers contemplations, new vocabulary and actions that promote what Ms. Eisler addresses as the Real Wealth: our Human Capacity and Nature Capital~giving value to what has been un-valued. This calls for a new teaching of economics and its indicators.This presentation is the culminating practicum project for that course. Julie is also currently enrolled in the Permaculture Research Institute Cold Climate Urban Farming certification program, and is in discussion with teams within St. Louis Park, its school district, the Sabes JCC, and Sholom Home West to implement Educational Edible Gardens as an opening collaborative initiative between our civic and educational goals. Sustainable, recreational, profitable, educational and charitable in nature, these vital Educational Edible Gardens address needs across all demographics found in St. Louis Park. As a filmmaker, Julie hopes to document this process to share with other communities as a model for incorporating a Caring Economy into their civic and educational missions.
