Dear John,

Like you, we continue to be inspired by students across the country and their clarity about what matters. They are showing us a path forward to peace as they grow local peace economies right on their campuses - and that we can meet our collective needs when we do so in community.

Want to learn more about how you can take the local peace economy from the college campuses into your community? Join us for our next Local Peace Economy Community Call on Wednesday, May 22nd at 5:00 PT/8:00 ET.

During this call, we’ll be talking about community - what it is and how to cultivate it.

If you weren't able to be with us during our last meeting, we hope you can join us this time. You can catch up on our last call here. You can also watch the recording of our introduction to the Local Peace Economy Workbook during our first meeting here.

Local Peace Economy Community Calls take place every other Wednesday at 5:00 PT/8:00 ET. Newcomers are always welcome. Stay up to date on all of CODEPINK’s events here.

Next Community Call Topic: Cultivating Community

Community is both the site and structure through which local peace economies are made possible. It is the network of mycelium that binds us to one another. The war economy tries to make us believe that we don't need each other - but the truth is that we can only cultivate local peace economies together, in community.

What is your current relationship with your community? What communities are you a part of? Are there rituals you share together? Is there a community you're already part of that would want to join you in cultivating a peace economy locally?

We'll explore these questions and more as we learn together during the call. In the meantime, you can read more about community on page 129 of The Local Peace Economy Workbook. We look forward to being with you on Wednesday, May 22nd!

Pivot to Peace

Self-Directed to Community-Engaged

The war economy encourages self-directed action and individual achievement over community care and engagement with those around you. But when we are not connected and engaged with our community, we can't actually listen to the whole of what's happening; we're operating in our own silo, which is easily shaped by the war economy. This way of being is also draining because it isolates us from relationships—where we find nourishment.

What makes you feel alienated from others? What are some ways you retreat into self-directed actions and individual achievement? Where are you already engaged with your community? Take some opportunities to see those who are caring for and creating your community—the teachers, healers, caretakers, nurses, essential workers, gardeners, etc. who enrich all our lives. Thank them.

Read more about the pivots to peace here.

The Cycle of (Re)connection

Grief, care, joy, and celebration—these experiences are some of the key entry points for (re)connecting with ourselves and each other as we divest from the war economy. We call this the Cycle of (Re)connection, and it's important work to attend to as we cultivate local peace economies. In this podcast, Gabes Torres offers wisdom about the importance of rooting our care and wellbeing in community and the healing that's possible when we gather in collective.

Inspiration for the Journey

The local peace economy is all around us. Stories of the local peace economy inspire us and teach us how we can create a culture of peace together. On the Local Peace Economy Wiki, we’ve been gathering stories of local peace economy projects. Check out this story about how community care systems inspired by bell hooks in Boston are caring for the city's most marginalized people.

Resources

Check out CODEPINK's latest blog post about why rooting yourself in your local peace economy is an antidote to the weaponized confusion of the war economy.

You can always find more resources for your local peace economy journey on CODEPINK’s website. Here are some helpful links:

• Lean into supported reflection by downloading or purchasing The Local Peace Economy Workbook
• Tend to yourself with The Cycle of (Re)connection
• Find a community of practice with The Local Peace Economy Ecosystem
• Get inspired by The Local Peace Economy Wiki
• Listen to CODEPINK Radio's episode all about local peace economies

Don't forget to follow us on social media!

Please email Emily at [email protected] with any questions. We look forward to being with you on Wednesday, May 22nd!

With care, 

Jodie and Emily

PS: Spread the word about local peace economies in your community—buy CODEPINK's new Local Peace Economy t-shirts and totes!