Convening - How to use 2024 Elections to further Wellbeing Economies
2024-02-20 16:00 - 17:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Zoom
Our Convenings are interactive, community building and areas to get supported and recharged.
We ask some questions to get people in conversation. We encourage gentle and deep listening and ask people to speak from their heart while also being sensitive that other’s will hold different opinions. We also ask that people not come into this space to promote a product or service.
We encourage you to have your cameras on, be in one stationary place with no shaking of your camera.
REGISTER HERE

WEAll CA Working Group
2024-02-21 16:00 - 17:00 | Zoom
Would you like to learn more about the work we do to seed more Wellbeing Economies?
Feel free to drop in to one of our weekly Working Group team meetings to get a sense. Perhaps we might intrigue you enough to join us for a research project.
For more details, please email us at
connect@weallcalifornia.org

What do we do about Monopolies if we really want a Wellbeing Economy
2024-02-22 16:00 - 17:00 | Zoom
Monopolies extort consumers and workers, rob entrepreneurs and small businesses of opportunity, and subject our communities to the whims of absentee executives in faraway headquarters. What tools do we have to challenge the concentration of corporate power and bolster free, fair, and competitive markets at the state and local levels?
In 2023, Democracy Policy Network launched their Anti-Monoply Kit to help states develop their own strategy and learn what is working across the country.
Michael Swerdlow and Basel Musharbash will step up through the basic concepts of Anti-Trust legal frameworks to keep businesses and Monopolies in check. They will review potential CA state legislative options as well as how we can support Federal Anti-Trust work.
Michael is the Anti-Monopoly Director for Democracy Policy Network.
Basel is an antitrust and community-development lawyer with Antimonopoly Counsel, a Texas law firm that represents farmers, workers, small businesses and local governments in advocacy and litigation aimed at righting the wrongs of concentrated corporate power — and building a free and fair economy for all.
Join us Thursday, February 22 at 4pm Pacific. Michael and Basel will answer your questions. SIGN UP HERE

Learn how STAR Voting better represents the will of the people
2024-02-27 17:00 - 18:00 | Zoom
California Primaries are coming up on March 5th. This year there are 22 candidates vying for Dianne Feinstein’s open Senate seat. Somehow, we are expected to pick only one!
In partnership with the awesome folks at the California chapter of STAR Voting, we are running a “mock election” using the STAR voting method. This method involves awarding each candidate 0-5 stars to express your relative enthusiasm. The two candidates who receive the most stars are then placed into an automatic runoff where everybody’s preference is taken into account. The result is a system that empowers voters to vote their conscience, levels the playing field, and elects more representative candidates. Learn more about how STAR Voting works here.
Vote in WEAll California’s “mock election” for California’s next senator! The “mock election” will close with the real polls on March 5th (The link says Feb 15 – this is an error! We’re working on it.). We plan to share the results alongside actual election data thereafter.
**VOTE HERE**
STAR Voting Learning Event
On Tuesday, February 27th at 5pm we are hosting a virtual Q&A. There will be brief presentations on STAR voting and the current state of the election, but we mostly want to hear from YOU! Got questions about STAR voting? Want to discuss the candidates with like-minded Californian’s? Join us and our friends from STAR to learn and discuss:
Register For the Event Here

Additional Resources:
What is STAR voting? How does it work? Why is it better?
Who are the candidates? – Official Voter Information Guide
Voting methods comparison from Occupy Wall Street 2012
Voting methods comparison from Chicago Mayoral Election 2023
Approval Voting in the California Primary 2024

just economies summit
2024-03-08 - 2024-03-09
On March 8th and 9th, the California 2024 Just Economies Summit is taking place in Sacramento.
If you’re a nonprofit leader, activist, policymaker, or individual who cares about and wants to work collaboratively toward economic wellbeing and justice in California, this event is for you! This special event will bring together organizations, activists and visionaries who are working to transform California’s economy so that it works in service of the wellbeing of both people and the planet.
In the face of increasing social, political, and environmental crises, it’s becoming increasingly clear that we need to transform our economic systems so they are just and sustainable by design.
This event aims to lay the foundations for state-wide economic systems change movement by bringing together a wide range of actors and organizations from across California to connect, learn from one another and identify potential avenues for radical collaboration moving forward.
If you’re passionate about the need for a regenerative, democratic, and just economy, join us! Through facilitated group discussions, community building opportunities, and policy visioning exercises, you’ll get a chance to connect with like-minded individuals and inspiring initiatives that are illustrating that a different economic system is not only possible, but already underway.
Registration is free.

Listening Tour to End Poverty in California
2024-03-19 16:00 - 17:00 | Zoom
4.7 million people live in poverty in California.
Devon Gray is the President of End Poverty in California (EPIC). Devon and his team conducted a 2 year listening tour around California to hear first hand from people experiencing poverty. EPIC’s goals include getting a better understanding of the issues as well as helping to change the false narratives that prevent significant societal changes.
Devon will share what he has learned on the tour, what insights have emerged from this epic tour and possible solutions to address these systemic issues.
Join us on March 19th at 4pm Pacific – SIGN UP HERE

Innovations in Community Wellbeing Metrics
2024-04-23 09:00 - 10:00 | Zoom
How do you use metrics to not only drive change, but increase civic engagement from community members? Two organizations are partnering to make metrics part of a story that community members feel invested in and can relate to.
Dark Matter Labs and the David Suzuki Foundation are collaborating on a program in Canada where communities participate in setting the metrics that matter to them. Through an innovative approach, the qualities that matter to a community are turned into “cornerstone indicators” – metrics that are underpinned by numerous factors yet remain relatable human stories.
Maddy Capozzi, Emily Harris and Vlad Afanasiev of Dark Matter Labs, alongside Tara Campbell and Maham Kaleem of David Suzuki Foundation, will step us through two previous projects as well as their brand new pilot in Canada.
Join Us – Tuesday, April 23 at 9am Pacific
Sign up here

Convening on Metrics
2024-05-09 16:00 - 17:00 | Zoom
Our Convenings are designed for you to meet others working in the Wellbeing Economy, Local Democracy, Economic Justice and Climate spaces.
The Convenings are spaces to come together for thought provoking yet supportive conversations.
Following our last learning event on Metrics, we thought it was a perfect time to have a group discussion on Metrics.
If you have never been to one of our Convenings before, we host a welcoming space. You don’t need to come regularly to feel welcome.
You can watch the learning event with Dark Matter Labs and David Suzukia Foundation at https://www.youtube.com/@WEAllCalifornia
SIGN UP HERE

Invigorating Local Democracy with David Pepper
2024-05-14 13:00 - 14:15 | Zoom
David Pepper is the author of two books on Democracy at the local and state level. David served as the Chair of the Ohio Democratic Party, teaches election and voting rights law and is a frequent contributor on many news outlets. David has a wonderful way of explaining how our lack of attention to local and state voting can work against our interests. He will share some of his insights and tools on how to invigorate Democracy in your community.
After the presentation, David will answer your questions.
Our event today is through a partnership with Reimagining Democracy Hub at Ulab and with special thanks to Anne Adams for arranging this special event.
Tuesday, May 14 1pm to 2:15pm Pacific
SIGNUP HERE
David writes an almost daily Substack. If you would like to see how “history rhymes”, check out a recent Substack on a 1936 FDR speech that David feels is relevant to today’s chaos. https://davidpepper.substack.com/p/fdr-in-1936
We also highly recommend his recent book – Saving Democracy.
Many of the great groups that David highlights in Saving Democracy are linked to on his website https://savedemocracy.us/

Working Group
2024-05-15 16:00 - 17:00, 2024-09-18 16:00 - 17:00 | Zoom
WEAll California is run by dedicated volunteers. We meet weekly to discuss events, do research on Wellbeing Economy efforts and discuss how to reach more people.
If you are interested in seeing what our Working Group meetings are like, please email us at connect@weallcalifornia.org for more details.

Allies Support Group
2024-06-03 16:00 - 17:00, 2024-06-11 16:00 - 17:00 | Zoom
Fellow Wellbeing Economy Allies,
Often, our events are aimed at learning from others, educating new arrivals, or organizing around an issue. But this work is really hard!
Personally, I have recently been struggling to explain my priorities and choices to people conditioned to a different mindset. Especially as the election approaches in the fall, we will be having more and more conversations with our families, friends, and communities about what we want our future to look like.
So, this summer we are introducing a new type of event: Wellbeing Economy Alliance Support Groups!
The goal is to create a safe space for our community to support each other by offering words of encouragement, giving advice for specific challenges, or even just a little commiserating to remind each other that we are not alone. There will be no predetermined topic; please bring your own reflections to share.
The first session will be on Monday, June 3rd at 4-5pm PST hosted by me (Jessie Green).
The second session will be on Tuesday, June 11th at 4-5pm PST hosted by David Green.
You can register for one or both sessions on this link
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfg7Ss0bdfofAHt4qW5anPf2yOV7AFd9kVk70fuvx70bFnCrw/viewform
If neither of those dates work for you, we plan to hold two sessions per month going forward, so keep your eye out!
The Support Group is a SAFE SPACE. This means it is always…

Confidential: Support Group sessions will never be recorded
Respectful: welcoming and judgment-free with zero tolerance for discrimination of any kind

I look forward to seeing some of you there!
Yours in wellbeing,
Jessie
Wellbeing Economy Alliance California is a volunteer run group that produces free events to support, connect and educate people working towards a society committed to wellbeing for all.

Engaging Residents in Local Democracy with Richard Young
2024-06-18 12:00 - 13:00 | Zoom
Richard Young is the Founder of CivicLex, a civic health organization that educates and engages Lexington, Kentucky residents in local democracy. CivicLex has evolved over time based on paying attention to what works. Richard is also very active in efforts in other communities to learn from what has worked well in other cities.
Richard will share CivicLex’s 5 Key Missions to engage residents and then we will move into Q&A. If you are new to WEAll CA learning events, you ask the questions. We encourage you to turn on your cameras and engage with our community.
We first became aware of Richard through an article he wrote for Next City. We encourage you to check it out.
SIGNUP HERE

Next City Article https://nextcity.org/urbanist-news/american-democracy-is-at-a-low-point.-we-need-to-strengthen-it-at-the-local

How to Advance a Wellbeing Narrative Workshop
2024-07-09 16:00 - 17:00 | Zoom
Wellbeing approaches, slowly gaining traction around the world, set human and planetary wellbeing as the definition of progress, centering policies, budgets and other actions on that goal. Accelerating this work in cities and countries requires a broader narrative about progress—shifting from economic growth at all costs “to” wellbeing for all people. In this session, Metropolitan Group and RAND will present key insights from work on advancing a wellbeing narrative, what it will take, and considerations in engaging diverse sectors.
Anita Chanda of RAND Corporation and Jennifer Messenger of Metropolitan Group, authors of How to Advance a Wellbeing Narrative join us for a one-hour interactive workshop to help us improve how we message to our communities.
SIGNUP HERE

Discussion about Supreme Court and Inequality
2024-07-23 16:00 - 17:00 | Zoom
We invite you to come into a discussion with other WEAll CA members. Our discussion events are not asking for long term commitment. Just an opportunity to meet other people from a variety of disciplines who are working towards a more, fair, just and sustainable world.
Our discussion topic this month is about the Supreme Court. They have been in the news a lot and you may have some thoughts.
In this interactive session we will be alternating between one-on-one breakouts and the full group. We will consider a few questions, such as:
What is the relationship between our Supreme Court and Inequality?
Given the way the Supreme Court operates, what are realistic ways that we can have justices that support a fair, just and sustainable world that works for all?
In what ways could our groups or organizations collaborate?
Let’s discuss!
SIGNUP HERE

Nick Romeo - How to Build a just economy
2024-08-08 16:00 - 17:00 | Zoom
Journalist Nick Romeo has spent years covering the world’s most innovative economic and policy ideas for The New Yorker. Nick studied the successes and challenges of people working to build economies that are more equal, just, and livable and wrote The Alternative – How to Build a Just Economy.
Nick combines original, in-depth reporting with expert analysis to help uncover what builds a Just Economy.
At this session, Nick will share with us some of the myths that got us to this moment and his analysis of where we could put our attention.

Join us Thursday, August 8th at 4pm Pacific
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeNsgamzrILrzncdxzxvqjhoBssmgH5Z6WjN157P3iLZHhoPA/viewform

Interested in the book? Please buy it at an independent bookstore like the one below:
https://www.pegasusbookstore.com/book/9781541701595

To learn more about Nick’s work, visit https://www.nickromeowriter.com/

Co-create a Wellbeing Economy Policy Platform
2024-08-20 17:00 - 18:00 | Zoom
Join us for our next Community Connect session where we will discuss “What are the 10 Top Policy Changes We Want to See”.
We will start with listening to each other’s policy priorities to see how we can rise up the top paths to a Wellbeing Economy.
This discussion is not about reaching full consensus or walking away with an official platform. Our goal is to connect people and deepen the discussion about what people would like to see.
This conversation could lead to several other conversations such as upvoting what the community sees as the biggest leverage points, look at language and messaging or perhaps even publishing a list of policy priorities.
We welcome you into discussion.
Tuesday August 20th 5 to 6pm Pacific
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeZLLCLB6UMigEuSoOM0r0kJOh5qaam9QIxKiCSOM5aHWum3A/viewform

Re-Imagining Democracy Hub
2024-09-10 13:00 - 14:30 | Zoom
We are inviting people into a different type of discussion. The Re-Imagining Democracy Hub started under as part of the u-Lab course offered at MIT started 4 years ago. The group meets monthly on the second Tuesday of each month from 1 to 215 pm Pacific time. It is a generative conversation that sometime employs the u-Lab techniques but requires no training.
The topic varies each month.
Please email connect at weallcalifornia dot org if you would like more information.

How to do more than Vote for November's Election
2024-09-12 16:00 - 17:00 | Zoom
We made an educated guess that our members are already committed to voting. So in honor of National Voter Registration Day, we wanted to create a list of ways that we can all support democratic participation in the November election.
Rex and David will share some less familiar ways to support the election and get more people to vote. This will be an interactive session so we can learn from each other and form connections with others working towards Wellbeing Economies on the local and national levels.
We will be sharing links to organizations that help staff polls in neighborhoods that don’t have enough poll workers, how to help cure ballots that are rejected and how to help your constituents check their registration.
If you have social media tools and examples, we hope you will bring them.
Our goal for this session is to encourage people to spread the word about the importance of voting to maintain and strengthen our democracy.
We hope you’ll join us on Sept 12th at 4pm! Register by clicking the button below.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScvH-Z_XbJWAHu0cQsbFLMsHBNTXe2MiZ5fX00-oEvV_4ZpGw/viewform

Academics for Wellbeing Economies
2024-09-17 11:00 - 12:00 | Zoom
Our kickoff meeting for Professors, University Staff and Teachers for all ages. We will be discussing how we can work across institutions and educational disciplines to create awareness of Wellbeing Economy whole system thinking. The group will decide on where we focus from these topics:

Curricula – Needs and Possibilities
Student Participation Opportunities
Cross Institution Collaborations

To join us or find out more information, please send an email to connect@weallcalifornia.org

LA County’s Efforts to Produce a Wellbeing Economy
2024-09-26 09:00 - 10:00 | Zoom
It might surprise you to learn that Los Angeles County is conducting a variety of initiatives that lean into the Wellbeing Economy concept. Join us for this interactive session with Caroline Torosis, the Senior Deputy for Economic and Workforce Development to LA County Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell.
Caroline will share with us the wide variety of techniques they are using to:

Boost local small businesses
Help create more Employee Owned Businesses
Expand participation in Co-Governance
Lift people at the bottom end of the wealth gap

Caroline Torosis is a government affairs attorney and workforce development expert for the County of Los Angeles, Caroline has dedicated her career to passing policies that protect the rights of our workers, consumers, and tenants while allowing our small businesses to promote a fair and vibrant marketplace where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
SIGNUP HERE

California Ballot Measures Examined
2024-10-24 17:00 - 18:00 | Zoom
Confused by the competing ads for and against measures on the November 5 ballot?
Come hear the League of Women Voters give an unbiased, nonpartisan explanation of the pros and cons of each measure. Learn about the issues, the context and the arguments for and against each proposition so you can make an informed decision
We will cover all the Propositions, but we will start with the one voted “Most Curious About”. Vote when you register at the link below.

Prop 2: School bond
Prop 3: Marriage Equality
Prop 4: Climate bond
Prop 5: Affordable housing
Prop 6: Slavery
Prop 32: Minimum wage
Prop 33: Rent Control
Prop 34: Healthcare
Prop 35: MediCal
Prop 36: Prop 47 recall

Thursday, Oct 24 from 5pm to 6pm Pacific
SIGN UP LINK BELOW
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeQ2cl3AqgCTM-23gQGdCPCxdGvXi83JZcXA0GP42vrHaa5EQ/viewform

Monthly Community Connection
2025-01-14 16:00 - 17:00 | Zoom
Our last community connection of 2024 was enriching. An attendee described it as cathartic.
The feedback we received is that people want a community to discuss how we create a society of wellbeing and to support each other through the emotional ripples of this work.
Each month we will have at least one connection session. The next question is finding times that work for our community. We have scheduled two sessions on January 14th to see how these times work for you.
If you can’t make either and want to lobby us for a different day or time, email us at connect @weallcalifornia.org.
Tuesday, Jan 14 at either 10am or 4pm
Sign up here

Working Group Meeting
2025-01-15 16:00 - 17:00 | Zoom
All of WEAll CA’s events, research and advocacy is done by a team of volunteers.
If you are interested to learn more about what we have planned in 2025 or you would like to contribute to our efforts, please reach out to connect@weallcalifornia.org

Local Economy Success Story
2025-01-27 16:00 - 17:00 | Zoom
Just San Bernardino is creating a community-centered economy planned for the people and led by the people by uplifting community voices. The project is four years old and has accomplished many impressive successes in community building, incorporating arts into their economic plans and putting forward a series of economic mobility initiatives.
Co-Directors Miriam Nieto and Carolina Sanchez will share details about their multi-prong approach to economic mobility and thriving community.
If you haven’t been to one of our learning sessions, they are structured so that our attendees can ask questions. This session is ideal for people leading local initiatives to see how other communities are achieving successful outcomes.
If you would like to learn more about Just SB in advance of our session, you can look at their impressive People’s Plan report online.
Join us Monday, Jan 27 at 4pm Pacific
Signup FORM

If you would like to receive the recording of this event, please sign up.

Narrative Workshop
2025-01-28 16:00 - 17:00 | Zoom
An important part of creating a society centered around Wellbeing is helping others to see the possibilities and to choose actions that move us collectively in that direction. For all the progress we make, it seems that we aren’t winning as much as we hoped.
As part of our series on Wellbeing messaging and narratives, let’s dig into the other competing narratives and why they work so well.
This group discussion will be focused on four questions

What are the existing narratives that undermine a Wellbeing Economy message
What tactics are being used to perpetuate those narratives
What should we learn from the success of these tactics
What else would the group like to learn about messaging in 2025

Our goal is to create a place where we can individually and collectively improve our ability to lead change, be more persuasive and identify messaging that works.
If you missed our first workshop on how to craft a Wellbeing Narrative, you can find the recording on our YouTube channel which also has a link to the original study the session was based on.
We are holding two sessions – one for morning people and one for afternoon people.
You can sign up for 9am or 4pm HERE

Book Club - The Serviceberry
2025-02-06 18:30 - 19:30 | Zoom
The first Thursday of each month, we will read and discuss one chapter of Robin Wall Kimmerer’s excellent new book – The Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World
The book is beautifully written and feels so important to the discussion of envisioning and co-creating a healthier world. One of our main themes for 2025 is how do we create the language and stories that help more people believe such a world is viable.
The chapters are relatively short, so we hope you will read (or reread the chapter) so it is fresh in your mind.
On Thursday, Feb 6 at 630pm, we will discuss the first chapter.
Sign up HERE

Please consider buying it from Abe Books or a local, independent bookseller.
https://www.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=32072116536

Monthly Community Connection
2025-02-11 16:00 - 17:00 | Zoom
Our Community Connect sessions do not have planned topics. We want to bring together activists, artists, community leaders and specialists to see what is needed and what can be created.
If you need some support or you are just looking for a place for deep conversation about our society, we invite you in.
We will hold the community support sessions on the second Tuesday of each month. We are experimenting with what times work best for the community.
This month, we will again do 10am and 4pm Pacific.
Email us if you prefer other times (connect@weallcalifornia.org).
Sign up HERE

Introduction to Wellbeing Economics
2025-02-13 18:30 - 19:30 | Zoom
Join us for an Introduction to Wellbeing Economics.
We will answer many of your hot and sizzling questions, such as:

What the heck is a Wellbeing Economy?
What is the difference between this and DeGrowth or Circular Economies?
What exactly does Wellbeing Economy Alliance California do?
What can I do to create a Wellbeing Economy in my community?

This will not be a webinar. Sure. We will give the razzle dazzle, but the focus will be on answering participants deeper questions.
Join us Thursday, February 13 from 630 to 730pm Pacific
SIGNUP HERE
If you are unable to make this time, please let us know at connect@weallcalifornia.org so we can plan a future Introduction.
