Talks and Workshops

Grassroots activists and indigenous communities around the globe are confronting encroachment by globalized corporations that threaten their economic sustainability and ecosystems. Funders and activists in the Global North may do unintentional harm to these movements by imposing culturally inappropriate practices or waging campaigns that are not sympathetic to the values and needs of the communities. This session will explore how to “think globally, act globally” in empowering organizations in the Global South to craft and win campaigns for corporate accountability. It will develop and explore patterns and processes for creating networks of solidarity that serve, rather than control, the civil society movements across the globe.

The workshop will undertake an examination of how the privileged position of activists of the North (U.S, Canada, and Europe) often leads us to recreate colonialist models in our interaction with community organizations in the global South. Collaboratively design a blueprint of how to support campaigns and build coalitions that place grassroots activists from the South in the leadership roles. Consider the nature of a responsive international, internet-linked network of justice activists that can assist in building power for their communities.

As individual grantmakers we will explore how to be hands-on partners in building power through authentic collaboration with people most impacted by the abuses of corporate globalization. NNG as a community of funders will better understand the interplay between funding and solidarity organizing in building power that is truly shared with beneficiaries.

Tools of participatory action research will be used to draw the themes from the participants, all of who are experienced actors in the globalization drama, whether we are from the North or the South. Storytelling and other non-western modes of communication will be used to impart the various perspectives of the grassroots groups. We’ll present a case study from a grassroots community working with a Global Response’s international solidarity campaign, and allow time to actually participate in the campaign, through letter writing and possibly including direct action.



Our present university system, with some notable exceptions, is simply not up to the task of training leaders capable of addressing these global issues.  As Oberlin professor David Orr noted, "the skills, aptitudes, and attitudes necessary to industrialize the Earth are not necessarily the same as those that will be needed to heal the Earth or to build durable economies and good communities."



We need to develop new models of education that support the development of whole persons with the understanding, skills, and commitment to help build sustainable, caring communities that enhance their local ecosystems.



Living Routes offers one such model by developing accredited, college-level programs based in "ecovillages" around the world.  Ecovillages are innovative communities that are striving to model sustainable development - ecologically, socially, culturally, and spiritually.  These communities provide ideal "campuses" for college students to immerse themselves in both academic and experiential learning about sustainability.


This workshop session will provide an introduction to the growing ecovillage movement worldwide and explore the possibilities and challenges of using these communities as sites for education and social change.