Economics of Well-being Up for Discussion

George Owen

Sustain Door announces a community idea exchange program associated with Earth Day: “Building Wealth without Money – the Economics of Well-being.” George Owen will deliver the 90-minute workshop on April 21 at 3 pm at the Bertschinger Center in Egg Harbor.

The program will begin with a 20-minute video about sustainable economics followed by discussion in small groups. Owen writes that he constructed the program for people “who have already been thinking about [sustainability] a little and are having a hard time seeing how economics fits into a positive vision.”

Owen is a native of Milwaukee whose career as an architect and facility planner took him to Boston, New York, Santa Fe, Washington D.C. He developed his current theories of sustainability while on sabbatical in 2007 at Pendle Hill, a retreat and conference center outside Philadelphia, where he focused on building a more sustainable and fulfilling future, including initiating a local Transition Town.

The Transition Town movement is a global initiative that demonstrates how local communities may use their intrinsic resources to face the related challenges of oil depletion and climate change. Owen states, “Transition offers a positive vision, an inclusive and transparent process, and taps the power of community and the creativity of ordinary people.”

Refreshments will be provided by Greens & Grains; please bring your own reusable mug. Participants are also invited to attend an informal gathering after the workshop at Greens & Grains.

Nonprofit organizations with missions to promote some aspect of social, economic, or environmental sustainability are invited to send a representative with materials about their organizations to exhibit. Interested organizations should contact Ann Hippensteel at 920.743.3337 or [email protected] to reserve a display table in the Bertschinger Center meeting room.