History
2011 - 2016
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed
citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that
ever has.
Margaret Mead, anthropologist – 1901-1978
At the Beginning:
Margaret Mead was right. Once upon a time in long ago 2011, a small group of
citizens in greater Cincinnati began to talk about what they might do to change
economic injustice in their community. From those conversations grew
conferences, forums, church ministries, a non-profit corporation, Economics of
Compassion, Inc., as well as city projects which in 2016 has become a catalyst for
wider community awareness and action in Greater Cincinnati. This is the story
of that small group of committed citizens and how it grew.
There was one…
It began in 2010 when Carolyn Reisinger became intrigued with the
Trinity Institute’s Conference, Building an Ethical Economy which connected
ethics, religion to economic practice. It seemed an appropriate, yet, unusual
coupling.
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As a member of the Cincinnati Interfaith Committee for Worker Justice
she had been aware of the economic injustices suffered by the workers in
Cincinnati and felt the need for a response. So in 2011 Carolyn and another
CICWJ member, Tom Choquette, helped gather a group of United Church of
Christ clergy to grapple with how religion and economic justice might be linked.
Walter Brueggemann, Old Testament scholar and theologian who lived in
Cincinnati, agreed to be the key-noter. He connected the Exodus story of the Old
Testament to our 21st Century story: “Countering Pharaoh’s ProductionConsumption Society of Today”. Pharaoh’s society, he reminded, was built on the
fear of scarcity, hence the mandate to the slaves became “build more bricks”.
Many in that audience saw the parallel to our current economic climate of
fear of scarcity and the sanctions our system puts on workers, our “slaves”.
Pharaoh was not the only one with an Empire.
Then there were 8…
Brueggemann’s message was that actually we live in a world of abundance
and neighborliness is the antidote to Empire. Since the Great Recession of 2008 was
still fresh in our lives, eight people from that audience met bi-weekly to talk
about what we might do to use Bruggemann’s thesis. Their goal was to increase
economic awareness in congregations and the general public so that ultimately
some change might come to the economic status quo.
A Conversation Emerged
According to this small group, conversation would be the key: get people
together to gain courage from one another, engage with others’ concerns and
share their personal experiences in our struggling economy – job loss,
diminished incomes, less hope for their children’s economic and security
futures.
From these conversations a planning group formed which included the
Christ Church Cathedral member, Beverly Jones, Sr. Monica McGloin,
Dominican Sisters of Hope, (original group members), Walter Brueggemann,
Rev. Joanna Leiserson, staff, Christ Church Cathedral and Peter Block,
community organizer. They planned a community conversation around the
theme “The Economics of Compassion”
Then there were 250…
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This first ECI Community Conversation was held in January, 2013 at Christ
Church Cathedral with Walter Brueggemann as key-noter and Peter Block as
conversation facilitator.
The Conversation’s budget could not include a meal for those attending so
the announcement asked for pot luck contributions. Two hundred fifty (250!)
people arrived with home-cooked food (!); there was literally only standing (and
eating) room.
Structure Emerges
The general response from those attending was gratitude to discover that each
person was not alone; that, indeed, “economics” and “compassion” could be
joined; that, as Margaret Mead indicated, we had a chance to change the world.”
Those attending indicated their interest in follow up conversations and a
“planning group” was held at Xavier University. Thirty people arrived and a
lively, unstructured conversation developed around possible next steps. Various
economic possibilities emerged and the work of organizing ourselves began.
And we grew…
Because of this response, a request was made to the Cathedral for a grant
to hire part-time public relations help to consolidate the interest from these
meetings. Soon the mailing list for an Economics of Compassion newsletter
exceeded 1,000.
Bellarmine Chapel’s Social Justice committee joined the conversation,
provided leadership to continue the community conversations and two more
Walter-Peter-People conversations were held at Xavier University in September
& November, 2013. The September meeting was “Clarifying a Biblical Alternative
Economic Vision” and the October meeting: “Living the Biblical Alternative
Economic Vision as a Local Movement”.
To build on this momentum, the conversation needed to go deeper and in May,
2014, Economics of Compassion, again met at the Cathedral with a sponsored
conversation, “Reimagining Economics: the next Step in Building a Movement.” In
addition to Walter Brueggemann’s thesis of Countering Pharaoh’s ProductionConsumption Economy, Xavier University economics professor, Nancy Bertaux,
reviewed the history of economic justice in the U.S.
Local existing, businesses of the New Economy in Cincinnati were
available for consultation.
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An organization took shape…
ECI put its newly forming vision into a statement:
1. ECI will engage the public, both secular and religious, in conversation
around the vision of a compassionate economy.
2. ECI will create opportunities for the public to actively participate in and
promote local examples of a sustainable economy that focuses on
community, cooperation, worker justice and solidarity among diverse
people.
ECI’s organizational structure emerged with opportunities for people to
sign up for the area of their gifts and interest; Work Circles were born. Groups
began meeting focused on the interest of their members:
Neighborhood Connections began conversations with citizens of Lower
Price Hill;
Resources gathered information about the New Economy and focused on
public relations.
Co-ops – explored how existing co-ops, and Interfaith Business Builders,
could stimulate development of other community co-ops.
Generous Structures explored alternative forms of raising capital and
supporting existing community alternatives, such as Renting Partnerships.
Jubilee took as its task understanding the history of debt issues in our
society and exploring how to jump-start alternative economies in local
neighborhoods with struggling economic opportunities and issues of
indebtedness.
Philosophy
Whenever people gathered a consensus appeared that we wanted an economy
that would “work for all of us”, that would be as democratic as possible, that
would not become hierarchical. More and more we realized an alternative
economic model was emerging in our society. Gar Alperovitz and others were
coalescing to put shapes to these desires: In 2011 Alperovitz said:
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“As the threat of a global climate crisis grows increasingly dire and the
nation sinks deeper into an economic slump for which conventional
wisdom offers no adequate remedies, more and more Americans are
coming to realize that it is time to begin defining, demanding and
organizing to build a new-economy movement.”
No Empire Builders here…
Economics of Compassion, Inc, is Greater Cincinnati’s effort to stimulate the
“new-economy” movement locally. Not only does ECI try to match the
movement’s philosophy
“that [it is] increasingly green and socially responsible, and one that is
based on rethinking the nature of ownership and the growth paradigm
that guides conventional policies…”Gar Alperovitz
ECI is also rethinking the conventional structure of organizations and has
developed a more horizontal, rather than hierarchical, operational system. This
works because of the high degree of trust among the participants, and the
individual personal commitment to the vision. Its efficiency is proportional to
the shared responsibility exercised by individuals. Since it is a dynamic
organization, ideas that have energy, thrive; those that do not wither.
Current structure….
To date ECI now has a non-profit incorporated Board of Directors – 4 ECI
members and three community members. Conveners of the Work Circles meet
as a Circle of Conveners to keep apace of the work of the circles, to make
proposals to the Board of Directors who manage the finances and hiring of
professional staff as necessary, and carry out suggestions of the Board. Functions
dictate the structure, not vice versa. It’s loose, but it works.
In addition, members-at-large meet quarterly as a Steering Committee to
continue the conversation, make recommendations for future growth and set
long term goals.
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2015
Like a new stream finding its way toward the river or sea, Economics of
Compassion flows toward economic justice for our Greater Cincinnati
community.
During 2015 other tributaries of alternative economic models have joined
and strengthened ECI’s flow. This project now involves hundreds of people in
our greater community.
This year has seen growth in interest and projects through the following developments:
 Economics of Compassion became a not-for-profit corporation in the state
of Ohio, established a Board of Directors and is in process of applying for
501(c)3 federal tax-exempt status.
 A generous grant from Christ Church Cathedral’s Coombe fund,
underwrites legal fees, part-time staff for communications and
promotional materials assisted by public relations work and consultative
work with Design Impact.
 LPK, a global brand agency, contributed their time and talent to help ECI
design a logo.
 ECI held its 5th community conversation September 24 at Xavier
University, “The Long Hard Road Toward Neighborliness” with Walter
Bruggemann, and Peter Block as conveners. Over 100 people participated.
Twelve not-for-profit groups working toward economic justice displayed
their current projects.
 ECI’s Neighborhood Connections Circle extended its work with Lower Price
Hill in collaboration with Design Impact to help the community study and
possibly and implement a Time Bank and cooperative laundry. Together
with Design Impact they completed a joint federal NEA grant application
for the work in Lower Price Hill.
 ECI’s Jubilee Circle organized four community forums focused on debt
and its relief held at New Prospect Baptist Church, Roselawn; Temple
Shalom, Amberly, Christ Church Cathedral and the Clifton Mosque.
Strong attendance indicates diverse interest in the issue of debt relief.
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 ECI participates and supports the Diocesan project of Fresh Expressions
through placement of an intern who provides 10 hours a week of help
with communications and project development.
 ECI was interviewed by Sarah Van Gelder, editor of Yes! Magazine, as part
of her research for a forthcoming book on alternative economic models in
the U.S,.
 In November ECI helped to support and participate in a two day national
conference, held at Xavier University: Accelerating the Flow of Capital to our
Neighborhoods, produced by Neighborhood Economics.
 Through it’s Generous Structures Circle ECI has worked closely with
Renting Partnerships, and is currently helping to facilitate work with them
and Cincinnati Union Cooperative to stimulate wider understanding and
investment opportunities in building alternative economic structures for
greater Cincinnati.
 As part of the burgeoning local cooperation and civic/governmental
efforts in economic justice, ECI participates in Thriving Cincinnati
Coalition, and Mayor Cranley’s Economic Opportunities Task Force and
the Economic Justice Roundtable.
 Economics of Compassion has continued to take a leading role in seeing that
“justice roll[s] down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream” as
Cincinnati creates alternative investment and economic opportunities for
all its citizens.
Bibliography
* Charles Eisenstein, Sacred Economics: Money, Gift and Society in the Age of
Transition
* Marjory Kelly, Owning Our Future, The Emerging Ownership Revolution
*Gar Alperovitz, What Then Must We Do?, any YouTube piece
* Michael Schuman, Local Dollars, Local Sense,
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*David Korten, Change the Story, Change the World.
*Walter Brueggemann, video Conquering Pharaoh’s Production-Consumption Society
Mark Alienski, Economics of Happiness
Peter Block, Walter Brueggemann, An Other Society
John McKnight, Asset Based Community Development
Schumacher Center
Global Backlash: Citizen Initiatives for a Just World Economy (New Millennium
Books in International Studies) Paperback – March 20, 2002
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Agenda for a New Economy: From Phantom Wealth to Real Wealth Paperback –
August 1, 2010 by David C Korten
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Professor Lance T. Bolt
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Brueggemann (Jan 31, 2014)
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Schumacher Institute
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Local Dollars, Local Sense: How to Shift Your Money from Wall Street to Main
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http://www.centerforneweconomics.org/e-newsletters/wendell-berry-cultureand-agriculture
Wendell Berry - What Are People For?: Essays by Wendell Berry
Wendell Berry, Sex, Economy, Freedom & Community: Eight Essays Sep 13,
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Beverly Jones
January 27, 2016
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