Localize It! What Resilience Looks Like
Over the years, we’ve learned that a primary focus of our work is to advance an understanding of localization. Simply, this means so much more than “buying local” and supporting your neighbor over the box stores in some mall. It means a conscious shift away from a culture of consumption that we have all been born into; a shift away from the globalized economic model that concentrates wealth and power and leaves most us living in a world of scarcity and disempowerment. While many are timid to speak this truth, we are not. We believe that WE have more power in ourselves, if only we step up to our true nature… joining together with others in communities of engaged citizens…. as  engaged change makers.

What's New... What's Ahead...

Americans Who

Tell the Truth

Visual Art for Social Change. The winter months at the White River Gallery @ BALE will be filled with the art of social conscience. The first two weeks of January bring people's artist Erok Gillard and will feature hands-on activism in the form of learning imprint poster making and art for the streets.

     Then comes two consecutive shows of 'Americans Who Tell the Truth;' (mid January through early April) portraits of past and contemporary citizens who courageously address issues of social, environmental, and economic fairness. These shows include additional community shows in the region at schools... and with artist, Robert Shetterly

-- Photo credit: Li Shen  ...

Community

Resilience Hubs

A Major New Initiative.

In collaboration with Community Resilience Organizations (CROs), BALE is developing a “Community Resilience Hubs” program in the White River watershed... and in receptive towns across Vermont. This project seeks to cultivate hubs of resilience – places where people gather for skills-building and sharing, social and organizational connectivity, and emergency preparedness that focuses on local adaptation to climate impacts. We are seeking receptive communities who are interested in this new phase of building resilience and will be providing resources to enable these initiatives to become reality.

White River

Time Exchange

A New Kind of Currency.

As a result of the recent Vermont Council for Rural Development’s “4-Town” visioning process, a BALE-led group has gotten together to launch a “time bank” or time exchange. It uses time as the form of exchange instead of U.S. dollars. Starting in early 2020, this group will be developing the resources and contacts needed to have full capacity at its public launch, most likely in spring 2020. Time exchanges, by function, are more democratic, equitable and only work at the local level.