Course topics include sustainability, local economics, social enterprise, leadership, community mobilization and more...

SCHEDULE OF COURSES

2013-2014 Vancouver Course Calendar DOWNLOAD HERE

2014 Calgary Course Calendar DOWNLOAD HERE

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

Sustainability of People, the Planet and Places (Instructed by Sean Markey)

The thrust of this course is develop one's ability to simultaneously think and act towards economic, social, cultural and ecological objectives. It is based on the key concept that many of our most critical global issues (e.g., climate change and peak oil) are rooted in local, day-to-day problems (e.g., inefficient land use patterns). It follows that enlightened local decisions about these issues will be of global as well as local benefit. 

Locanomics: Principles & Practice for Community Prosperity (Instructed by Michael Shuman)

This course sets the frame for the rest of the program. This course will review current research of the efficacy to different approaches to economic development. The bulk of the course will provide you with a framework and set of strategies that are proven to deliver the most benefit, and can be applied without seeking resources external to your community. The goal of this approach is to ensure that economic power resides locally to the greatest extent possible, sustaining vibrant, livable communities and healthy ecosystems in the process.

Emerging Economic Theories & Practices  (Instructed by Nicole Chaland in 2013 & Charles Eisenstein in 2014)

This course will review the most compelling new economic theory and practice such as the steady-state economy, gift economy, sharing economies, green collar economies and co-operative economies.

Making Change Happen (Instructed by Anne Docherty)

In this course students will acquire a proven model for making change. We present a Community Organizing Model that draws from the work of Paulo Freire, Augusto Boal, Marshall Ganz and Eric Shragge and has been tested and refined by the Storytellers' Foundation in the Gitxsan Territory for over a decade. You will learn how making change is fundamentally about relationship building and working with people. You will be introduced to strategies for building inclusion, social capital and effective campaigns (fundraising or political and everything in between). You will gain insight into how this approach to making change is a basic building block for local or regional economic self-reliance.

Social Innovation, Entrepreneurship & Enterprise (Instructed by Brian Smith)

Social enterprises, such as Potluck Catering, the Cleaning Solution and Mission Possible provide meaningful employment and belonging for people who experience mental illness, social exclusion and homelessness. As more organizations pursue shared value and blended returns, the landscape between non-profits and business is becoming more dynamic. This course will explore that dynamic from the perspective of a sustainable local economy. In this course you will explore the concepts, values and applications of social innovation, entrepreneurship and enterprise. You will consider the role of the entrepreneur and the intrapreneur.

Leadership for Localism (Instructed by Sue Drinnan)

A sustainable local economy approach is ultimately about uplifting your neighbours. It acknowledges that we each have a stake in each other's economic success. Buying (or donating) local as an economic development strategy will not work as a hard and fast rule whereby neighbours feel pressured to buy locally regardless of the quality of service, goods and relationships. The thrust of this course will be to develop the skills and appreciation for uplifting existing private and social economy organizations.

New Economy Study Tour 

This course will be organized as 4, ½ day study tours according to the following themes: co-operatives, social enterprises, business associations and the sharing economy show-casing the very best of Vancouver's green and social economy organizations. 

Social Innovation Challenge

This final capstone course will develop practical, sharable solutions to some of the toughest community problems. Participants will experience design thinking and rapid prototyping and be organized into teams to craft solutions. Teams will have 36 hours to develop their solution.