Connie’s Small Group “We used to meet in the basement of the local library, about twelve of us, each week,” explains Connie. “The librarian was always asking us what we were laughing at. Somehow we just always had a lot of fun when we met. And we helped each other in all kinds of ways.”

Isolation: An American Epidemic When Lisa Cook’s cat had to be put to sleep, she went to the vet alone. “I couldn’t think of a single person to ask to go with me,” she remembers. “It was devastating.”

Isolation: An American Epidemic Instead of relying on each other, we rely on money, corporations, and screen time to fill our needs We depend on distant, complex systems to fill our supermarkets and our gas stations Disruptions to these systems can be catastrophic to communities

Community is Woven from Gifts Participatory and de- centralized groups Sustains relationships Supports alternative economies to meet needs Frees us from isolation; empowers us to act

Small Group Approaches Resilience Circles Affinity Groups Emergency Preparedness “Pie Parties” preparedness/

Resilience Circles Small Groups of 8 – 20 People Purposes: Learning – Change the Story Mutual Aid – Create Community Social Action – Change the Rules FREE, Open-Source, Seven Session Curriculum available at

Learn Together Learning about the economy or the environment alone is hazardous to your mental health. Don’t learn alone. Find your small group.

Stretch your “mutual aid muscles” slowly! Mutual Aid

Sarah Byrnes Institute for Policy Studies, New England Office Resilience Circles localcircles.org Jamaica Plain New Economy Transition JPTransition.org New England New Economy Transition NETransition.org