Decolonizing Economics Summit 2023

Anchored by the Wiyot Tribe’s Dishgamu Community Land Trust, several Cal Poly Humboldt faculty,  Green Eco-Socialist Network, Native Roots Network, New Economy Coalition, the US Solidarity Economy Network, and a growing network of additional partners, this 3-day virtual conference serves as a space to exchange experiences and information, strengthen alliances and networks, and to devise strategies to decenter colonial systems and implement concrete solutions to heal the land and people. Over 1,000 people participated in the 2022 Summit, and we expect even more in 2023!

Decolonizing economics is an explicit challenge to ourselves and participants to center Indigenous wisdom, perspective, and knowledge. Decolonization is not a metaphor, it is the path towards just social, political, and economic institutions. A call to decolonize economics acknowledges that in order to build the movement for reparative justice, we need to first understand the extent to which colonialism has influenced/continues to influence our modern economy. Our summit aims to demonstrate real solutions to heal the land and people, through educating attendees about our economic system, the failings of putting profit over people, and the ways in which groups around the world are working towards economic and social justice.

• Educate about decolonizing economics in purpose and practice.
• Devise strategies to create an explicitly post-capitalist society using the “Solidarity Economy” framework:
  • Solidarity, cooperation, and mutualism
  • Equity in all dimensions–race, ethnicity, nationality, class, gender, sexual orientation, (dis)ability
  • Participatory democracy
  • Sustainability

• Strengthen existing organizations, especially those doing solidarity economy work.
• Create a space for organizations to share best practices and collaborate across issues and constituencies toward collective liberation.
• Co-create concrete “next steps” for how we can implement cooperative economic practices in our community.

This conference will feature panels, presentations, performances, and skill-shops which address the various perspectives and approaches of grassroots organizations, community activists, educators, students, and others committed to social and environmental justice.

Supporting sponsor: We ask for a contribution of $100-$499. We will ensure that you are identified in the program and all promotional materials. You agree to help promote the conference to your lists and networks. Contributions will be overseen by the Green Eco-Socialist Network. Please contact David Cobb davidkcobb@gmail.com if you have questions about the contribution process. Last year we raised enough money to cover conference costs and provided honorariums to all presenters. We expect to do so again, and will prioritize BIPOC presenters for honorariums. Please contact us if you or your organization are interested in donating time or other resources to this work.

Summit attendance is on a sliding scale, which means you can pay what you can. If you are able to do so, we request a contribution of $25-100 so that we can pay a living wage to organizers, and provide a stipend to presenters. (NOTE: We have made a commitment to prioritize stipends to BIPOC presenters).